Last Year at Gare D'Austerlitz
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Last Year at Gare D’Austerlitz By Cole Seidl
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Transcript of Last Year at Gare D'Austerlitz
Last Year at Gare D’Austerlitz
By
Cole Seidl
FADE IN:
EXT. PARIS SIDEWALK - NIGHT
It is early in the morning. The sun is not up yet.
A group of Americans are standing on the sidewalk in front
of a large shuttle bus. Many of them are in tears. JEFFREY,
early 20s, stands barefoot. He is visibly freezing. He makes
his way to each person, everyone mumbling indistinctly to
each other.
A light in an apartment above the street turns on. A woman’s
voice in French is screaming down at the shuttle bus.
The Americans finish their hugging and goodbyes. All but
Jeffrey get into the van. He stands and waves as it pulls
away. He constantly shifts his weight from one foot to the
other, lifting the free foot off the ground to warm it. The
woman from above is still shouting unclear curses to the now
departed Americans.
Jeffrey stands alone on the sidewalk, actively attempting
not to shiver. He walks a few meters to the student foyer.
He swipes his card next to the door. The door opens and he
wanders inside as the first glimmers of day begin to rise up
above the buildings.
EXT. PARIS 11TH ARRONDISSMENT - SUNRISE
We see the unique beauty of the sunrise in Paris. The sky is
a slight pink hue while rogue streams of sun pass through
the cracks of the buildings. They peak around La Bastille.
The Cafés of Nation seem to awake as their awnings become
immersed in sunlight. The trees, already having shed most of
their leaves look warm in spite of the winter that surrounds
them. There are homeless men sleeping below the ATM machines
and at the top of the stairs of the Metro at
Faidherbe-Chaligny and Gare du Nord.
Le Chateau de Vincennes stands tall as the sun rises behind
it. It casts its own courtyard into shadow. While the sun
makes the forests behind it glow. It almost makes you
believe you’re still in the medieval times.
The back alleys of the 11th are the the last thing the
sunlight reaches. They stay almost exclusively in shadow.
The working class neighborhoods that are still majestic even
in their blue collar earthiness. Still the same architecture
as the most beautiful neighborhoods of Paris, though less
well maintained. There are still plenty of beautiful bars
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
and cafés, they’re just cast in shadow from the few high
rises that seem to block off the more traditional buildings.
Though, in the end, the sun still manages to sneak in and
cast a faint hint of optimism over the streets. Especially
Rue de Titon,where the foyer Jeffrey has just entered is
located.
OPENING CREDITS
INT. FOYER COMMON ROOM - DAY
There is an African man sleeping in a chair behind the front
desk. He doesn’t even move as Jeffrey enters the building.
Jeffrey wanders through the common room. There are a few
Europeans eating breakfast, and several more on their
computers. Skyping with people from back home. There is a
bizarre ambiance to the room from the mixture of several
languages: Russian, French, Italian, Spanish and even a
little Chinese all blurring together.
Jeffrey looks around and notices STINE, a Danish girl,
eating the free breakfast provided to them by the Foyer:
some bread and cold coffee. He shuffles over and sits next
to her.
As he sits, she notices and smiles at him. He smiles back.
She returns her attention to her breakfast.
He glances around the room. Everyone seems to be organize by
nationality. The Germans all speaking German at one table,
clearly enjoying themselves. The Spaniards speaking in a
more subdued tone across the room. The French and North
Africans huddled over a computer together, all talking to
the same person via skype.
Then... The mixed bag table. A small Chinese girl on her
computer skyping with someone back home. A few other quiet
people, not talking to anyone. And Jeffrey and Stine,
sitting silently.
Stine suddenly breaks the silence
STINE
(In French)
All the other Americans have left?
JEFFREY
(French)
Yeah.
She gives him a smile then gets up and heads out the front
door of the Foyer.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
Jeffrey glances around self-consciously.
He gets up and heads up the stairs.
INT. DORM ROOM - DAY
Jeffrey bursts into the dorm room. It’s small and cramped,
even with three of the four beds now unoccupied. Jeffrey’s
small corner of the room is a mess. He shuffles over to his
bed, lays down for a moment on his back, staring straight up
the ceiling. He sits back up. He picks up his iPod from the
floor next to the bed and sets an alarm. He puts it back on
the ground, lays down and goes to sleep.
INT. DORM ROOM - DAY
The alarm clock is ringing. Jeffrey wakes up, sluggishly. He
turns it off and sits back up. He looks around the room.
He stands up and puts on a pair of socks and a pair of
shoes. He grabs his wallet and the spare coins laying on the
floor next to his bed. He he puts on a light tweed coat and
a scarf. He turns around and heads back out the door.
INT. FOYER COMMON ROOM - DAY
As Jeffery heads out he looks over the room full of
Europeans. Some of the Germans notice him. They smile
politely and wave casually, then focus their attention back
to each other.
He heads out the front doors of the foyer into the street,
which is now in full daylight.
EXT. PARIS STREET - DAY
Jeffrey wanders down the street. Heading down Fauberg-Saint
Antoine towards Place de la Bastille. It’s cold. He pulls
his jacket closed, but doesn’t bother to button it.
The city is now fully alive. The people are out. The stores
are open. The hustle and bustle that makes Paris feel so
unique is coming on extra strong. Though everything still
feels unusually quiet, in spite of all the people and
activity surrounding Jeffrey. He walks stoically as if he
had somewhere to be.
He stops at an ATM. He pulls out his wallet and then his
check card. He inserts it into the machine. Presses the
English button. Punches in his code.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
He waits. He types in a number into the machine. His card
spits back out. He takes it. He looks at the screen.
"Insufficient Funds" flashes across.
Jeffrey lets out a slight exasperated sigh. He puts the card
back into his wallet. He has two 5 Euro bills folded into
it. He puts the wallet back into his pocket turns around and
continues down the road.
Finally he stops at a sidewalk Café and sits.
EXT. SIDEWALK CAFÉ - DAY
Jeffrey glances around at all the people walking. There are
several people briskly headed to work. Others just sort of
strolling.
A waiter appears.
WAITER
(In French)
What would you like.
JEFFREY
Café Au Lait.
WAITER
Café Crème.
Jeffrey looks mildly confused. Not sure if his French is
being corrected or if his order is being changed without his
input. The waiter walks away, making it clear that
regardless of what’s going on, the matter is no longer in
Jeffrey’s hands.
In the street there is a man trying to light a cigarette. A
visibly upset woman is preventing him at all turns. She is
yelling incomprehensibly at him, and blowing the flame out
of his lighter every time he manages to produce one. Finally
she pulls the cigarette from his lips and throws it on the
ground. The man, doing his best to ignore her, casually
pulls another one from his pack and puts it between his
lips. He calmly ignites the lighter, all the while ignoring
the woman’s yelling. She slams her mittened hand down onto
the flame. Smothering it.
The waiter reapears with Jeffrey’s coffee. It looks enough
like a café au lait.
JEFFREY
Merci.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
Jeffrey takes a sip of the coffee. Seemingly satisfied he
leans back in his chair and continues observing the people
on the streets.
A man is walking his French bulldog. It stops and poops in
the middle of the sidewalk. The man stares at the pile of
poop for a moment, then... decides to ignore it and
continues walking.
The man attempting to light his cigarette has been worn down
by the woman. He is now holding the lighter outward, almost
shoving it into the woman’s face. Now it is her trying to
ignore him while he rants incomprehensibly.
A businessman walking quickly passes the couple, without
even seeming to notice their bickering. He turns around the
café and walks down the sidewalk, he steps directly into the
french bulldog’s pile of shit. He stops, mutters under his
breath and slides ridiculously along the sidewalk trying to
clean off his shoe.
The angry couple’s argument seems to have escalated. She is
attempting to walk away from him, while he pursues her,
continuously grabbing her shoulder, trying to get her to
acknowledge him. She pulls free of his grasp and walks
swiftly away from him. He leans against the building behind
him and pulls out a cigarette, produces a flame with his
lighter, and lights his cigarette. He inhales deeply and
produces a large puff of smoke like a huge sigh of relief.
Jeffrey takes another sip of his coffee.
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He opens his
eyes and finishes the coffee in a large gulp. He leaves the
money, in coins, on the table next to the empty cup.
He stands up and continues walking down the road towards
Place de la Bastille.
EXT. PARIS STREET - DAY
Jeffrey continues walking. Quietly. Solemnly. He doesn’t
bother to look around. Just continues forward. He is walking
faster than most of the other people on the street.
Continuously passing the other people. He’s almost jogging.
It’s clear he’s not a Parisian. Everyone seems to be put off
by his haste, even those who are walking quickly.
The cold doesn’t let up at all. Everyone is bundled up.
Jeffrey less so than the others. Another hint that he isn’t
a local. A few snowflakes begin to fall around him as he
walks.
6.
He comes up to a Boulangerie. He stops and heads inside.
INT. BOULANGERIE - DAY
There’s a small line. He waits until the baker finally comes
to him.
BAKER
(French)
Like normal?
JEFFREY
Oui.
The baker pulls a brioche suisse out of the glass display.
Jeffrey hands him a five euro bill. He takes his change and
then heads back out into the street.
EXT. PARIS STREET - DAY
He continues walking briskly down the street. The snow is
continuing, though only very lightly.
Finally the street opens up into a huge circle. All the
other streets filter into it. Here, for the first time, the
sounds of Paris become vivid. Loud.
The cars filter around the monument in the center of the
circle. People shuffle everywhere. Jeffrey waits at a light
to cross the street towards the metro stop.
The light changes. Jeffrey jogs across the street, making
his way past all the other pedestrians, and heads down into
the metro.
INT. METRO ENTRANCE - DAY
Jeffrey heads down solemnly into the station. Scans his
metro card and wanders through the dingy looking station. An
accordion can be heard echoing in the distance. It grows
louder as Jeffrey continues through the tunnel. He comes
across the man playing the accordion. The man is ragged and
weary looking. Though the accordion’s music sounds pristine
and clean. Jeffrey breaks his pace for the first time.
He slows down, but continues walking without taking his eyes
off of the accordion player. The man is stoic. He plays,
seemingly lost in the music. Unphased by the waves of people
flowing past him. Seemingly uninterested in whether or not
they’re even listening.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
Jeffrey stops. Then slowly, inches back towards the man. He
watches quietly. The man is a virtuoso. Jeffrey focuses on
his hands. The music echoes loudly through the tunnel. It
seems the acoustics of the tunnel were designed with this
performance in mind. They carry the notes throughout the
whole station.
INT. METRO TRAIN PLATFORM - DAY
Jeffrey stands at the edge of the platform, the sounds of
the accordion still ringing out clearly. There is nothing
blocking him from the tracks. He wanders dangerously close
to the edge. He leans forward staring down at the tracks. He
looks down into the dark tunnel. There is no train in the
distance.
He takes a couple steps back. Across the tracks, on the
other platform is a homeless man. He is meticulously
organizing his things. Then he lays down underneath the
seats, closes his eyes, and seems to instantly fall asleep.
Jeffrey wanders forward, towards the tracks once more. He
leans over the each peering down into the tunnel. Suddenly,
a light appears the train is hurtling forward, straight at
him. Jeffrey rests calmly with his head in the way of the
train, then slowly backs away from the edge just as it is
about to whiz by.
He takes one last look across the tracks at the man dozing
underneath the plasitic seats.
Jeffrey’s train pulls up in front of him, blocking the
sleeping homeless man from view.
The doors open, a few people filter off of the train.
Jeffrey steps on.
INT. TRAIN - DAY
Jeffrey wanders down the aisle of the train, finds a seat
and sits down. He pulls out his brioche suisse. The doors
close. The train begins to pull away. He takes a few bites
of the brioche. He looks around the train. Everyone has the
same demeanor. Hunched over. Staring at a fixed point on the
ground across from them. Once again, Jeffrey is the
exception. He leans back, legs stretched out, looking around
the train. Eating.
8.
EXT. MAUBERT MUTUALITÉ METRO STOP - DAY
It is still snowing. Still lightly, but more intensely than
before. The ground has a thin coat sprinkled over it.
Jeffrey appears up the stairs from the metro and onto the
street. He looks around to get a hold of his bearings. He
turns and begins walking up Rue Des Carmes.
It’s a steep hill-like street. He almost slips once, now
that the snow has made the street a mild walking hazard. He
sort of shuffles the rest of the way up the hill.
EXT. LE PANTHÉON - DAY
Jeffrey reaches the top of the hill, where the street
becomes cobblestone, making every one of his movements
significantly more treacherous.
The snowfall has picked up a bit now. It doesn’t appear
that’s it’s going to let up for quite a while.
He makes his way over to the courtyard in front of the
Panthéon. There are several tourists posing for photos and
gazing in awe at the massive building.
Jeffrey stands with his back to the building gazing down the
long road featuring a long line of beautiful, but less
overbearing buildings and ending at the entrance to the
Jardin de Luxembourg.
He slowly turns, stopping and taking a moment to look at
another large building with the words "Liberté, Egalité,
Fraternité" written just above the entrance.
He completes his pivot, then finally takes his turn to stare
up at the massive building. He looks at it briefly, then
walks towards it and up the steps. The steps are crowded
with people looking for shelter from the snow.
He reaches the top of the steps and sits down. He watches
the people out in the courtyard in front of the building. A
man slips on the cobblestone and falls. He friend doubles
over laughing hysterically.
Jeffrey leans against a massive pillar and rests his head
against it. Watching passively as people take photos, a few
kids attempt to skate on the cobblestone as if it were ice,
and most people, off put by the wet snow, make their way
away from the building to somewhere warmer.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
Jeffrey closes his eyes for a moment. The wind picks up. He
opens his eyes and pulls his coat closed again. There’s a
man standing a few feet in front of him. AARON, early 20s,
studying abroad in the same program as Jeffrey. They catch
each others eyes. Both men look somewhat shocked. Aaron
makes his way towards Jeffrey on the steps. Jeffrey stands
up to greet him.
AARON
Hey! What are you still doing here?
The two men hug.
JEFFREY
My flight doesn’t leave until
tomorrow morning. What about you?
AARON
I decided not leave at the last
minute. I took a volunteer job down
south.
JEFFREY
That’s awesome. For how long?
AARON
I think it’s just three months.
A beat
AARON
(Cont’d)
I was ready to go home, then last
week it really hit me and I took
the first opportunity I could find
to stay here.
JEFFREY
Yeah. I don’t blame you. I’m
jealous.
Jeffrey looks around. The courtyard is almost empty now.
AARON
What are you doing in this
neighborhood? Saying "goodbye" to
our campus?
JEFFREY
I don’t know. I didn’t have any
plans. I just thought I’d kind of
go through my daily schedule one
last time. What are you doing?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.
AARON
My favorite crepe place is around
here. I had to get at least one
more before I go. If I don’t say
goodbye I think it’d break the poor
old crepe man’s heart. Are you
hungry?
JEFFREY
Yeah, I could handle a crepe.
AARON
It’s down Mouffetard a little ways.
JEFFREY
Cool.
They make their way cautiously down the slippery stairs of
Le Panthéon and trudge slowly through the now sloppy street.
EXT. RUE MOUFFETARD - DAY
Jeffrey and Aaron walk side by side down the street trudging
through the snow. Both dressed similarly, with a relatively
thin coat and a thick knitted scarf. Though, Aaron’s coat is
actually buttoned closed, Jeffrey is still holding his shut
as he walks.
JEFFREY
Where down south exactly are you
headed?
AARON
Saint-Aubon. It’s about an hour
away from Cannes. Working on a goat
cheese farm.
JEFFREY
That’s awesome.
AARON
I figured I like cheese and I don’t
have any problems with goats. I
think I’m just really not ready to
head home yet.
Jeffrey chuckles slightly
JEFFREY
Yeah, I know that feeling. I booked
my ticket home a day after everyone
else. Just because I wanted to
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.
JEFFREY (cont’d)
watch everyone leave. To have that
feeling that you get when your
friends leave your house. To feel
like Paris was my house, and
everyone I know was just my guest.
I don’t know why. It was just
important for me to create that
illusion for myself.
AARON
Sorry to barge in.
JEFFREY
It’s okay. I think the effect had
pretty much dissipated already. It
was a children’s Tylenol when I
actually needed morphine.
AARON
What would be the morphine?
JEFFREY
Probably volunteering on a goat
farm.
They are both mildly amused by their chosen metaphor.
The snow has built up into an actual heavy snowfall by now.
They pass steadily by all the different buildings. There are
some Christmas decorations out on some of them. The lights
don’t look like a bastardization on the buildings. They
highlight the beauty of the architecture.
JEFFREY
When do you start on the farm?
AARON
Tomorrow. I’m leaving at 9 o’clock
tonight.
The street is more empty than typical because of the snow.
The buildings move by. They look as if they are floating and
Jeffrey and Aaron are the ones standing still.
They arrive at the crepe stand. It’s more of a shop than a
stand. It’s covered and there are a few seats inside. They
step inside.
12.
INT. CREPE STAND - DAY
Inside they both make a minor effort to brush the snow off
of their shoulders and heads. The crepe man looks stoic and
unpleasant.
AARON
They have a crepe with ham and
cheese and veggies and stuff.
JEFFREY
Crepes are just dessert for me. I
couldn’t eat that.
The man stares at them impatiently.
AARON
(French)
I’ll have the usual.
The crepe man shifts his eyes slightly to look at Jeffrey.
CREPE MAN
(French)
You?
JEFFREY
(In French)
Banana chocolate.
Jeffrey and Aaron both pull a few coins out of their pockets
and hand them to the man. They move over to a couple stools
against a counter in the back, and sit down.
AARON
I was just kidding by the way.
JEFFREY
About what?
AARON
He wouldn’t give a shit if I left
without saying goodbye.
JEFFREY
I like to pretend that my baker
thinks about me regularly. And that
after tomorrow, he’ll wonder where
I’ve gone. Then a couple years from
now I’ll come back to visit and
blow his mind.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.
AARON
That’s a sexual perversion.
Jeffrey laughs
JEFFREY
Yeah, probably. I’ve done that ever
since I was a kid. I’ve always had
weird fantasies about people
missing me.
AARON
(Freud voice)
This stems from a feeling of being
without strong ties to your mother.
You were probably sent off to
school too young.
JEFFREY
Now it’s more subtle. I just
imagine the baker thinking about
me. When I was in elementary school
I always daydreamed about dying. I
always wanted to push the girl I
liked out of the way of a car only
to be killed by it myself. I didn’t
even want to get the girl. I just
wanted her to mourn my death.
AARON
I thought that too. I bet you
that’s normal. I always wanted to
disappear mysteriously and everyone
I knew had this vague idea that I
might still be alive for the rest
of their lives. I didn’t even
bother to think of what actually
happened to me. Just my friends and
family’s reaction was enough.
They crepe man puts their two crepes into some sort of crepe
holding contraption.
CREPE MAN
(From behind them)
Hey! Ready.
Jeffrey and Aaron both get up and grab their respective
crepes. Then return to their seats. Aaron’s is a meal.
Jeffrey’s is extremely thin. It looks almost like there
isn’t anything inside it.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.
AARON
What do you think?
Jeffrey takes another bite and contemplates for a moment.
JEFFREY
Yeah. It’s pretty good.
AARON
I mean. I’m sure bananas and
Nutella taste relatively similar at
any crepe stand. But I haven’t yet
found a dinner crepe that can touch
this one.
JEFFREY
Yeah. I’ve been ruined. In my mind
they have to be sweet otherwise it
just freaks me out. Like when you
think you’re about to drink sprite
and it’s actually just tonic water.
AARON
That’s actually happened to me
here. I thought they were putting
mustard on this, turned out to be
some horrible yellow mayo
horesradish sauce. Haunted my
dreams for weeks.
JEFFREY
Yeah. I’ve had that issue with my
Kebab guy a few times.
AARON
Do you actually like kebab?
JEFFREY
Yeah. I eat it like every day.
AARON
I don’t know. I feel like
something’s wrong. The lamb meat
tastes better back home than it
does here.
JEFFREY
Tastes the same to me.
AARON
To be perfectly honest, I miss food
in America.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.
JEFFREY
Like what?
AARON
I mean, they have roughly all the
same stuff here, but it’s all just
slightly wrong. Like milk. You can
get cereal, but the milk is warm
and it’s all 2%.
Jeffrey laughs
JEFFREY
Yeah, that took me a while to get
over.
AARON
The food here is good. By all
means, it’s probably infinitely
better than what I’m used to eating
back home, but at the end of the
day I’m really excited when I see a
Subway.
JEFFREY
Oh dear lord me too. When I need a
break from the kebab, that’s my go
to restaurant.
Jeffrey’s crepe is gone. He has made a mess. He looks around
for a napkin. There is a napkin holder in the front by the
crepe man.
He gets up and wanders to the napkin holder. He awkwardly
pulls out a couple napkins, trying desperately to avoid
getting chocolate on everything. The crepe man completely
ignores him.
He wipes his hands as he makes his way back to his seat.
AARON
The weirdest thing is that it
didn’t come from being away from
home for too long. It was
instantaneous. The moment I left
the airport our first day here my
first thought was "God I really
want a burger."
Jeffrey laughs knowingly.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.
JEFFREY
I forced myself to wait at least
two weeks before I bought one. The
Irish pub across from the foyer has
burgers.
AARON
No way! Are they any good.
JEFFREY
Yeah, they’re really good. They’re
too small for how much they cost,
but they’re good.
AARON
You guys never told me!
JEFFREY
The first one I had I didn’t even
taste. I literally held the whole
thing in my hand, reached my fist
into my esophagus and gently placed
the whole burger on the floor of my
stomach. It was one of the most
satisfying moments of my life.
Aaron finishes the last couples bites of his crepe
wistfully.
AARON
This is delicious... but it’s
incapable of delivering the kind of
gastrointestinal satisfaction you
just described. Thank you for
ruining my final crepe in Paris for
me.
JEFFREY
I like my bittersweet moments to be
heavy on the bitter.
AARON
You want to go?
JEFFREY
Sure.
They get up and re-wrap their scarfs in preparation for the
snow. They stop at the front and wave goodbye to the crepe
man.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.
AARON
Au revoir.
The crepe man says nothing. They step out into the snow.
EXT. RUE MOUFFETARD - DAY
Aaron and Jeffrey stand oddly on the sidewalk. Everything is
now covered in a thick blanket of snow. The streets are even
starting to look white, though the thick layer of slop still
manages to be the defining factor.
JEFFREY
What do you have planned for your
last day in Paris?
AARON
Nothing. I already moved out of the
apartment. I stored my bags at Gare
d’Austerlitz. So I’ll grab them
right before I get on the train
tonight. I just have to kind of
wander around till tonight. You
doing anything in particular?
JEFFREY
No, nothing in particular. I do
kind of want to go to La Defense
one more time.
AARON
Why?
JEFFREY
I don’t know. I like La Defense.
There’s something otherworldly
about it.
AARON
Because it’s empty?
JEFFREY
Maybe. I have no idea.
AARON
Alright. I’m cool with that.
They step off the sidewalk and make the first important
steps onto the slippery snow covered street. They trudge
forward, squinting slightly as the snow blows into their
eyes.
They head toward the Jardin de Luxembourg.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.
JEFFREY
Why are you so distressed about
going back to the U.S.?
AARON
I don’t know. A part of me really
wants to go back. Mostly the part
that won’t stop craving burgers and
Mountain Dew. But I just don’t feel
like I have a real life there. I
could work, but there’s no job I
want to do.
A beat
AARON
(Cont’d)
That’s probably it. I’m probably
just avoiding the inevitable. The
part of life where you find a
permanent job and you don’t like
it, but there’s nothing else to do.
I feel like I should postpone that
as much as possible.
JEFFREY
Yeah. I’m certainly not looking
forward to that.
AARON
I could work on a farm or
something, but I really don’t want
to be a farmer.
Jeffrey laughs.
AARON
What?
JEFFREY
You’re avoiding the fate of
becoming a farmer, but working for
free on a farm.
AARON
I reserve the right to contradict
myself at every turn.
JEFFREY
I know what you mean though. I just
really don’t want a boss anymore.
I’m mildly afraid that part of why
I loved my time here so much was
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 19.
JEFFREY (cont’d)just that I didn’t work at all
while I was here. This is the first
time I’ve been unemployed since I
turned 16. It’s also the first time
I’ve felt free.
AARON
You still had classes here.
JEFFREY
Yeah, but the grade doesn’t
transfer back. I just need to get a
C average to get the credit. I
skipped like every other day. I can
handle that workload just fine.
Plus, I’m used to class all morning
then work all night.
AARON
Yeah. It has been a nice break.
JEFFREY
So did you defer for a semester?
AARON
No. I’m done. This was my last
semester. I’m graduated now.
JEFFREY
Oh, that’s sweet.
AARON
Yeah. I was actually kind of
excited to finish up over here.
Keep it low key.
JEFFREY
Your parents weren’t upset about
not getting to see a big ceremony.
AARON
Probably.
A beat.
They reach the Luxembourg RER station.
20.
INT. LUXEMBOURG RER STATION - DAY
Aaron and Jeffrey come down the steps into the station. They
swipe their Navigo cards and head down the tunnel towards
the platform.
JEFFREY
I honestly don’t mind working. I
just hate having a job. Really just
having a boss.
AARON
Anarchist!
Jeffrey laughs
JEFFREY
I’ve never had a boss that
disciplined me, or complained about
my performance or anything. As far
as I know, I’ve always outperformed
expectations.
AARON
Neo-Liberal!
JEFFREY
No. I just mean, I think that
somehow I must have some internal
mechanism that forces me to do my
job decently well. I don’t want to
have to feel the stress of being
watched. Or being judged. Or just
being subservient to someone. I’m
clearly capable, I should have
earned the ability to be left
alone.
AARON
Libertarian!
They arrive at the platform. The train is waiting. They step
on and find a couple seats. They sit down.
AARON
I avoid the RER whenever possible.
JEFFREY
Yeah, it sucks. I always feel like
I’m going to get stabbed on here.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.
AARON
The metro is so wonderful, I’m not
sure how they managed to make the
RER so revolting.
The doors close. The train begins to move.
INT. CHATELET RER STATION - DAY
People bustle from the RER through the tunnel into the Metro
station.
The signs offer various directions to walk, depending upon
which line you take.
People filter in all directions shoving their way past each
other. In the various tunnels musicians play. A different
instrument in each tunnel.
Line 1 towards La Defense has a tunnel to itself.
At the platform the line 1 train arrives. People filter on.
INT. LA DEFENSE METRO STATION - DAY
At the platform. The line 1 train arrives, now at its
destination. The people filter off.
Jeffrey and Aaron step off of the train.
The walk side by side through the station, which really is
more of an underground mall.
AARON
Did you come with us on Halloween
when we went to that nightclub
under the bridge.
JEFFREY
No. I never went to any of the
nightclubs. I hate clubs.
AARON
I do too in general. But I felt
like I should go with everyone at
least once. Sabrina said it seemed
pompous to stay in when everyone
else was going out.
Jeffrey laughs
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.
JEFFREY
That sounds like something she’d
say.
AARON
Not a fan of Sabrina?
JEFFREY
I don’t know. She’s fine I guess.
I’m not going to keep in touch with
her now that we don’t live in the
same neighborhood. I feel like we
were pretty lucky. I got along with
pretty much everyone.
AARON
Yeah. Everyone was pretty cool.
JEFFREY
Maybe it’s just because we were all
the type of person who is
interested in studying abroad. Or
we all were interested in coming
here in specific. Whatever it was
we were all pretty compatible. At
least for six months.
AARON
You can put up with anyone for six
months.
JEFFREY
Yeah. But I do feel like it was
more than just putting up with each
other. I feel pretty close to
everyone here. I guess it’s
probably just shared experience.
AARON
Probably.
JEFFREY
I don’t really make friends very
easily though. If any of the other
Americans here had been in some of
my classes in the States, I never
would have talked to them. But
because we were all here I feel
like they’re my closest friends in
the world. Even if we aren’t very
similar people.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.
AARON
Yeah. You were just subconsciously
avoiding the need to speak French.
JEFFREY
I hope not. My original plan when I
arrived was to make no American
friends. I was going to refuse to
speak any English for six months
and only talk to French people. I
ended up doing essentially the
exact opposite.
Aaron laughs.
AARON
No offense. But that’s why I’m glad
I didn’t live with you guys. Forced
me to speak a little more French.
JEFFREY
Weren’t there any Americans in your
building?
AARON
There was one guy from Baltimore,
but he insisted on only speaking
French to me. He was significantly
better than I am, so I think it was
maybe just to show off.
JEFFREY
Have to show off to the other
Americans because the French aren’t
impressed by that.
AARON
We fucked up. We should have
learned Tagalog. Something that the
native speakers would appreciate.
JEFFREY
We’re in to deep. Can’t change it
now.
They come up the stairs out of the mall.
24.
EXT. LA DEFENSE - DAY
Aaron and Jeffrey rise up from below the ground. La Defense
is covered in snow. Jeffrey pulls his coat closed again.
There is a Christmas market in full swing. However, the
neighborhood is still the emptiest part of Paris that can be
found.
AARON
Chicago. Post apocalypse.
JEFFREY
The only time it feels like
Christmas is in La Defense.
AARON
You know the French hate it right?
JEFFREY
The French hated the Eiffel Tower,
the Glass Pyramid, and the Centre
Pompidou. I’m going to ignore their
opinion on this one.
AARON
Maybe you like it because they hate
it.
JEFFREY
Probably. Half of what makes it so
great is the fact that no one is
ever here.
They look around.
JEFFREY
I’m going to get a Pain au
Chocolate or something.
AARON
For sure.
They make their way into the small crowd in the Christmas
market. Which looks exactly like the Christmas market in
Chicago. Post apocalypse.
They come up to a stand selling an assortment of pastries.
AARON
They have donuts here.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 25.
JEFFREY
I know. I’m tempted. But I’m going
to be back in the U.S. tomorrow.
I’m going with the French pastries.
He grabs a pain au chocolate. Pays the woman at the stand.
They wander through the market, towards the huge square
structure that mirrors the Arc du Triomphe.
JEFFREY
The thing I hated about Sabrina was
that nothing she did felt genuine
to me.
AARON
How so?
JEFFREY
She was constantly taking pictures,
but not because she wanted to
remember anything. She was taking
them to put on facebook. I think
she only came to Paris so that she
could constantly remind people in
the U.S. that she was in Paris.
Aaron laughs
AARON
It wouldn’t surprise me.
JEFFREY
Every day she would try to get me
to read her travel blog. I know for
a fact that she doesn’t give a shit
whether or not I read her blog, she
just wants me to like the newest
post so that her friends will see
that her travel writing is
validated.
AARON
Have you ever read it?
JEFFREY
Yeah.
AARON
It’s not very good.
JEFFREY
No. It sucks. But it doesn’t even
matter. All travel blogs suck. No
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 26.
JEFFREY (cont’d)one cares about your travels in
Europe. Europe is the most
thoroughly traveled continent in
the world. I promise you’re not
going to provide any insight that
isn’t already available anywhere
else.
AARON
Yeah, I never really understood the
love for travel blogs.
JEFFREY
It’s pure narcissism. You studied
abroad so somehow that makes what
you have to say worthwhile. If what
you were writing had any substance,
you’d write it in a journal that
you keep under your bed and you’d
never let anyone read it ever.
AARON
Hey, remember that I’m a writer.
Them be fighting words.
JEFFREY
I mean this type of writing. It’s a
glorified diary. Same with the
pictures. The photos are not art,
they’re not photography... they’re
bragging rights. In that same sense
the blogging isn’t really writing.
AARON
Fair enough. I think she meant
well.
JEFFREY
She probably did. It’s just that it
didn’t feel genuine. Everything she
did was for the purpose of
projecting an image of herself
rather than actually just existing.
She never actually looked at
anything the whole time she was
here. She only saw the Eiffel Tower
on her iphone screen when she
uploaded her pictures of it to
Facebook.
They reach the top of the steps. The stand in the square and
look out at Paris. It’s actually a striking view.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 27.
AARON
Yeah. I see why you like this. This
is a view of the city that you
never see.
JEFFREY
It’s a weird blend of all the
history of the city with the modern
world. It feels like your standing
in the future staring out into the
medieval times.
They stare out at the view. Stranded beneath the ultramodern
glass and steel skyscrapers towards the old stone buildings
that Paris is known for.
AARON
Do you want to get some coffee. I
hate to admit it, but I’m freezing
my balls off.
JEFFREY
There’s a Starbucks right here.
They shuffle down the stairs and into the Starbucks.
INT. STARBUCKS - DAY
There is no line in the Starbucks. There are a couple people
sitting down. There is Christmas music playing. Aaron goes
up to the counter first.
AARON
Grande. Café Americain.
He pays. He moves along to pay for his coffee. Jeffrey moves
up to the counter.
JEFFREY
Tall. Mocha Blanc.
He pays. They sit down near the window. Overlooking the
Christmas Market. They sit silently for a moment. The
barista calls out for their drinks. They get up and grab
their drinks, then sit back down by the window.
JEFFREY
I am actually jealous of you. I’m
tempted to cancel my flight, but
I’m literally out of money. I have
two American dollars left in my
bank account.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 28.
Aaron laughs
AARON
Are you going to make it to the
airport tomorrow?
JEFFREY
I’ve got some cash on me. Plus I’ll
just take the RER there.
AARON
Good plan.
They look out at the market again.
AARON
It feels like America in here.
JEFFREY
Yeah, but something is off. I like
that.
AARON
It’s the fact that you can see La
Defense through the window.
Otherwise on the inside it’s the
same.
JEFFREY
I came here a few weeks ago. They
were playing Christmas music. I
felt all nostalgic. This is this
only place in Paris where it
legitimately feels like Christmas.
AARON
That’s true. Although you’re just
feeling nostalgia for the
consumerism of home.
Jeffrey laughs.
JEFFREY
I don’t think so. I have a sneaking
suspicion that nostalgia is just
some subconscious realization that
death is coming.
AARON
Almost certainly. Also, if anywhere
in France could subconsciously hint
towards your impending death, it’s
La Defense.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 29.
JEFFREY
For sure. I also think it’s the
music in here, and the same coffee
I have back home. Feels like home,
but it’s also just clearly not
home. That puts my brain on the
fritz. Feels like I’m the only one
left.
AARON
I wrote an essay about that my
Sophomore year. About going back to
a place you haven’t been to for
years sets off feelings of
insecurity about the future more so
than longing for the past.
JEFFREY
That’s cool.
A beat
JEFFREY
(Cont’d)
Do you think you’ll get any writing
done down south.
AARON
Yeah, probably. That’s what I’m
hoping for. I need to postpone my
return till I can make a little
more headway.
JEFFREY
It’s a short story right?
AARON
It’s a novel. I don’t think
anything will become of it. But I’d
like to at least write the whole
thing.
JEFFREY
That’s cool.
Outside the sun is lower in the sky. The sun hasn’t quite
begun to set, but dusk isn’t far away.
They both sip on their coffee.
JEFFREY
What’s it about?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 30.
AARON
It’s hard for me to explain really.
JEFFREY
Sure. But like, what kind of story
is it? Is it a mystery or some
James Joyce stream of consciousness
thing?
AARON
No no. It’s actually really
straightforward. But it’s not
really about the story. That’s why
I feel weird just describing the
basic plot. It feels like somehow
I’m leaving out what it’s actually
about.
JEFFREY
Yeah. I’ve written stuff like that.
I mean, I’m not really a writer.
But when I’ve tried that’s what I
thought I was doing.
AARON
Yeah.
A beat.
AARON
I took this two week trip to Taiwan
Freshman year. So it all takes
place in Taipei.
JEFFREY
Cool.
AARON
It’s about this old Taiwanese guy.
He owns a little convenience
store...
CUT TO:
EXT. SMALL CONVENIENT STORE IN TAIPEI - DAY
The store sits quietly on the street, without drawing
attention to itself.
31.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - DAY
We see the old store. It’s dirty looking, as is typical in
Taipei, but very homey and inviting at the same time.
We watch the old man who owns the store as he welcomes
people into his shop, people he obviously knows. His
neighbors and repeat customers.
AARON
(Cont’d)
(In V.O)
...that sells some traditional
Taiwanese food, drinks, snacks
normal convenience store stuff.
Business isn’t booming but he makes
a decent living from the handful of
people in town looking for
traditional items they can’t get at
the other stores.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - NIGHT
The old man is sitting behind the counter watching T.V. He
is alone in the store. A muffled sound of people laughing
catches his attention and peers through the window to see
three white people laughing as they come up to a building
across the street. They pull out some keys, open the front
door and head inside.
The man watches through the window intently. Almost spying.
Transfixed.
AARON
Then, one day, some Americans move
in across the street from his
store. He doesn’t speak any English
and has barely ever talked to any
foreigners before, but for some
reason he’s really excited about
it.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - DAY
The man is sweeping the floor, he looks up and watches as
the Americans emerge from their apartment building.
AARON
He sees them every day from the
window of his store.
32.
INT. OLD MAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The man’s wife is asleep next to him on her side. He lies on
his back. Eyes wide open, staring straight up at the
ceiling. Smiling slightly. Daydreaming.
AARON
He starts lying awake at night,
sort of fantasizing about them
coming into his store. He imagines
that he’s going to introduce them
to all sorts of foods they’ve never
tasted before and that he’ll sort
of be the gatekeeper to Taiwan’s
rich culture. He’s a very
traditional person and cares about
his heritage very much, more than
most people in the neighborhood.
But he’s very pleasant and genuine
about it.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - NIGHT
The man is sweeping, closing up the store. He turns off the
light and locks the door. As he’s doing so he notices the
Americans emerging from their apartment.
AARON
However, the Americans don’t come
into his store. He notices that
they seem to be night owls, so he
expands his hours a little later
into the night.
The man turns his light back on, unlocks his door, props it
open, and returns to his seat behind the counter.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - DAY
The old man’s wife sits solemnly behind the counter.
AARON
He’s old and starts to get tired,
so his wife starts working the
morning shifts for him so he can
stay at the store longer in the
evenings.
33.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - NIGHT
The old man sits stoically and welcoming behind the counter.
As if any moment the Americans will burst through the door.
AARON
He never tells her that it’s
because he’s trying to attract the
Americans into their store. He just
says that they close earlier than
the other convenient stores in the
neighborhood, which just so happens
to be true. Unfortunately, his
biggest competitor is a 7/11 only
three doors down.
EXT. 7/11 - NIGHT
The 7/11 glows ethereally. Like an oasis inviting the
thirsty.
AARON
7/11s are everywhere in Taiwan and
he never really worried about them
before, because they sell a lot of
Western products and his store is
focused on a much different
clientele.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - NIGHT
The old man turns off his lights, closes his door very
slowly and locks it. Never once taking his eyes off the
apartment across the street.
Suddenly the Americans appear. He switches on the light, and
pulls the door open. The Americans cross the street and walk
towards him in slow-motion. All the stress melts from his
face as he makes a welcoming motion with his hand.
The Americans walk right past him without even seeming to
notice him.
The man, confused, peers his head out the door and watches
as they turn directly into the 7/11.
AARON
But one night as he’s closing up
his store, he notices the Americans
walking into the 7/11. This sets
something off inside him that he
didn’t even know existed.
34.
INT. OLD MAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The man’s wife is sound asleep on her side. He lies awake
staring upward. A look of distress and determination on his
face.
AARON
That night he doesn’t sleep at all.
The next day he starts overhauling
his store.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - DAY
The man furiously pages through a catalog, circling items
left and right.
AARON
He looks through a catalog and
orders Cokes, Pringles, Snickers
bars, everything the 7/11 has to
offer and more. His friends and
family are confused. He tells them
"It’s time to modernize" which only
confuses them more because it’s
something that seems to go against
everything he used to believe in.
The man speaks on the phone motioning heavily with his
hands. He is like a tornado moving around the store,
behaving as if he were making every effort to save someone’s
life.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - DAY
The old man’s wife and daughter sit solemnly behind the
counter.
AARON
He calls in his wife and his
daughter, who normally spend their
time looking after his ailing
mother, so that between them they
can keep the store open 24/7. He
stops sleeping altogether.
35.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - NIGHT
The old man, looking as if he hasn’t slept in months stands
with his face against the glass of the window. Staring
intently at the Americans’ apartment. Wavering just
slightly.
Just as they did before, the Americans emerge. Cross the
street, and in slow-motion pass by his store without
noticing the surely bizarre sight of his face pressed hard
against the glass. Staring at them. They pass the store and
turn into the 7/11.
AARON
He spends every night peering
through the window waiting for the
Americans. Every night he sees them
come out of the apartment, cross
the street, and walk right past his
store into the 7/11. It starts to
drive him crazy.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - DAY
The old man is tearing down the old Chinese couplets from
his walls. He repaints with bright colors. He adds some nice
Ikea furniture to the sidewalk out front, to make it a sort
of café.
AARON
He spends almost all of his savings
re-decorating the place. Trying to
make it look more modern.
INT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - NIGHT
The man watches from his newly redesigned store as the
Americans follow their normal routine of passing him by
without so much as a sideways glance and head into the 7/11.
AARON
Still, every night the Americans
come out of the apartment, cross
the street, and walk past his store
to the 7/11.
36.
EXT. SMALL TAIPEI CONVENIENT STORE - DAY
The old man with a box of the store’s contents in hand locks
the doors to his store.
AARON
Soon, he can’t even afford to keep
the store open anymore. The old
folks in town have stopped coming
to him because he no longer stocks
any of the items they’re interested
in. Since no one else stocks them
either they just do their shopping
at the 7/11. He closes up the store
and sells the property for a small
amount of money.
INT. OLD MAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The old man is standing at his window, peering out at the
street. Suddenly his face contorts and he falls backwards.
AARON
The night he sells the store he has
a debilitating stroke. When he is
released from the hospital he is on
bed rest.
INT. DAUGHTER’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The old man is lying in a bed near a window. There is an
otherworldly glow peering in through the window. He stares
out at the source.
It’s the 7/11. Glowing brighter and stronger than ever
before.
The Americans are walking down the street and into the 7/11.
The old man’s eyes widen in realization.
The lights from the 7/11 grow brighter and brighter washing
out the man as his body relaxes and he submits to death.
AARON
He is living with his daughter,
since they can’t afford their own
apartment anymore without the store
and with his new medical bills. She
just so happens to live across the
street from the 7/11. One night
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 37.
AARON (cont’d)he’s in a lot of pain. He can’t
sleep. He stares out the window at
the glowing lights of the 7/11. As
he’s looking he sees the Americans
that he’s ruined his life for
walking into the 7/11. Just then it
hits him. They chose the 7/11 night
after night not because of the
products they were selling or the
Western style design scheme. They
didn’t go there because they were
open late. They went to the 7/11
only because it’s an American
brand. They were drawn to the
familiar. He couldn’t compete with
them because they had the American
clientele solely by existing. Then
his heart stops, and he dies.
INT. STARBUCKS - DUSK
Jeffrey and Aaron have both managed to finish their coffee
throughout the course of the story.
JEFFREY
Holy shit.
AARON
Like I said, it’s different when
you just hear the events then how
it’s presented in the book.
JEFFREY
I think the events by themselves
are pretty cool though.
AARON
Thanks. It plays with form a little
bit and stuff.
JEFFREY
I don’t know. I like it like that.
I like it just really straight
forward.
AARON
Well, I’m glad. I need time to
finish working through it. This
time down south will be good for
that.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 38.
JEFFREY
Yeah. Well, let me read it when the
time comes.
AARON
Definitely.
A beat.
AARON
Shall we go?
JEFFREY
Yeah
They get up from their seats and head out of the Starbucks.
EXT. LA DEFENSE - DUSK
Dusk is upon the city. Everything is still fully lit, but
the greyness that comes through Paris in the evening is
crawling in. La Defense looks especially more dead in the
light.
JEFFREY
Where do you want to go?
AARON
Maybe we can head towards Gare
d’Austerlitz. I know my train isn’t
leaving for a while, but just to be
safe I’d like to be in the general
vicinity.
JEFFREY
Yeah, for sure.
They wander away from the Starbucks and back into the
Christmas market, towards the entrance to the Metro Station.
INT. LA DEFENSE METRO STATION - NIGHT
They come down into the station from above, brushing the
snow off of themselves as they make their way down the
stairs. Jeffrey let’s go of his coat and it is left open
once again.
JEFFREY
I still don’t really believe that
I’m going home tomorrow. In a way I
feel like it doesn’t even actually
exist.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 39.
AARON
You’ve been in a coma for twenty
years and America is just an
elaborate dream.
JEFFREY
Kind of.
AARON
Why not just stay another semester?
JEFFREY
I would, but there aren’t any more
credits I could take that would
actually help me graduate. So it’d
be a huge waste of money.
AARON
Yeah, that sucks.
JEFFREY
All the French people complain
about their free school. One of
them told me that it isn’t as nice
as it sounds because they have to
pay for their own books which can
be like 600 Euros a year.
Aaron laughs
JEFFREY
I think he didn’t believe me when I
explained how much I actually pay
per year including books and
housing.
AARON
Drop out, marry a French girl, then
re-start school after you’ve got
your citizenship in order.
JEFFREY
I wish. Do you think my girlfriend
would be cool with it?
AARON
I’ve never met her, but if she’s
right for you then she most
certainly would.
They reach the platform.
Jeffrey looks up at the sign. It says the next train arrives
in 1 minute.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 40.
JEFFREY
Do you think I can get a snack from
the machine before the next train.
AARON
There’s no way in hell.
Jeffrey bolts away from the platform towards the vending
machine.
He rummages through his pocket and pulls out a fistful of
coins. He violently feeds them into the machine, dropping
the small ones accidentally and not bothering to pick them
up. The train pulls in.
AARON
It’s here!
Jeffrey presses the button.
The doors for the train open and all the people filter off.
The machine fires up the spiral wire starts to rotate, very
slowly.
AARON
Not going to make it.
JEFFREY
Fuck it!
He turns and heads toward the train. Half way there, the
candy drops. Jeffrey stops. He turns and looks at the
machine as the "door closing sound" rings out. With sadness
he books into the train and the doors close suddenly behind
him.
INT. TRAIN - NIGHT
Jeffrey breathes a sigh of relief now that he’s made it
successfully onto the train.
JEFFREY
That was the closest I’ve ever
gotten to getting my candy.
AARON
It wouldn’t have been a legitimate
ride on the Paris metro had you
successfully made a vending machine
purchase.
41.
EXT. GARE D’AUSTERLITZ METRO STATION - NIGHT
Aaron and Jeffrey come out of the station into the snow,
which is now at blizzard proportions for Paris. The whole
ground is covered in a thick white sheet under which the
slush has disappeared. Jeffrey pulls his coat shut. They
both walk, shoulders hunched and tense, forward down the
road.
AARON
Do you know this neighborhood very
well?
JEFFREY
No, not really at all.
AARON
Me neither. I guess we can just
sort of wander around and find
something to eat.
JEFFREY
Yeah, that’s fine with me.
EXT. RUE BUFFON - NIGHT
They wander down the street towards Le Jardin des Plantes.
JEFFREY
That’s the Jardin des Plantes up
ahead.
AARON
I’ve never gone there. How is it.
JEFFREY
Nice in the summer. I haven’t been
there since.
The keep walking, against the wind, towards it.
JEFFREY
You know, the more I think about
it, the more I think that maybe I’m
bitter at the U.S. for making me
what I am.
AARON
What’s that?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 42.
JEFFREY
An American.
AARON
What do you mean?
JEFFREY
I just mean, I’m sort of, in the
end, just a product of American
culture, which is in essence
non-existent. I don’t feel at home
in the U.S. I don’t feel like I’m a
part of anything. I don’t feel like
being an American is like being a
part of some big family or anything
like that. Yet I’m distinctly not
anything else.
AARON
Certainly not French.
JEFFREY
No. I can’t even fake it. Within a
week of being here I’d established
a group of friends that was
essentially 100% comprised of
Americans. Including you.
AARON
Yeah, sorry about that.
JEFFREY
But I still love it here. I feel at
home here while simultaneously
feeling like I don’t belong. Even
unwanted to a certain degree.
AARON
Yeah, for sure. I’m kind of hoping
that feeling will be slightly
different down south.
The reach the entrance of the Jardin des Plantes. The gate
is closed.
JEFFREY
It’s closed.
AARON
Bummer.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 43.
JEFFREY
Probably for the best. I feel like
a little bitch, but I’m really
cold.
AARON
Yeah. I wouldn’t mind some more
coffee anyway.
They continue onward down the road.
AARON
The thing about Paris is that
you’re allowed to love it from
afar. You don’t have to be a part
of it culturally to take something
away from it.
JEFFREY
Yeah, you get a very distinct
aesthetic experience just seeing
it.
AARON
Yeah, but I mean, in a way the best
French friend you make here is the
city itself. You don’t need to have
an intimate connection with anyone
here to have an intimate connection
with Paris.
JEFFREY
Yeah, that’s true.
AARON
You can bond with the Architecture,
the climate, just the general
atmosphere. You can get a feel for
the people as a whole. You bond
with the city but not necessarily
with the culture.
JEFFREY
That’s what I feel like happened
with me. I love this place, but now
that all the other Americans are
gone I’ve realized I don’t have any
actual ties here. I thought I did
until this morning.
AARON
That’s what makes this place so
unique. Everywhere else in the
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 44.
AARON (cont’d)world except maybe New York
requires a real human experience to
appreciate. It requires you to know
people, or at least to make some
sort of connection with another
person to understand what it’s all
about. Paris is more solitary than
any other place I’ve been. The most
important factor in comprehending
the city is yourself, the way you
and the city effect each other.
A beat
AARON
(Cont’d)
That’s hard to say without sounding
like a mystic.
Jeffrey laughs
JEFFREY
No, I get what you mean.
They come upon a McDonald’s. The both stop and look at each
other.
JEFFREY
Do you want to go here.
AARON
Sure. I’m okay with it.
They both tentatively head into the building.
INT. MCDONALD’S - NIGHT
They walk in, brushing the snow off as usual. Their hair is
wet from the snow melting. They walk up to the counter.
Jeffrey orders first.
JEFFREY
(In french)
A coffee and 6 piece chicken
Mcnuggets.
He pays and moves aside to wait for his food.
AARON
(In french)
The same.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 45.
He pays and moves over next to Jeffrey.
AARON
I have to run to the bathroom. Will
you grab my food?
JEFFREY
Yeah.
Aaron runs up the stairs to the second floor. Jeffrey
stands, waiting for the food.
There is a small group of people all waiting for their food,
keeping to themselves, avoiding eye contact with each other.
All except a woman, ERIN, mid 20s/early 30s who keeps
looking at Jeffrey. Finally, she moves over next to him.
ERIN
Hello.
Jeffrey is mildly confused that she’s talking to him.
JEFFREY
(Cautiously)
Hello.
ERIN
I couldn’t help but overhear you
guys. It’s hard to miss when you
hear English being spoken.
JEFFREY
Yeah, that’s true.
ERIN
What are you doing in Paris? Just
here on vacation?
JEFFREY
No. We’re studying abroad.
ERIN
Oh cool. How long have you been
here?
JEFFREY
Six months. Tonight’s actually our
last night here.
ERIN
Wow. Cool.
A beat.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 46.
She seems genuine in her interest.
Jeffrey is visibly awkward with the conversation and trying
not to be rude.
JEFFREY
What are you doing here?
ERIN
Here for work. They send me here
for a couple weeks once a year. One
of the perks of the job. So do you
speak French?
JEFFREY
A little.
ERIN
It’s really hard. I’ve been
studying it for years, but I don’t
get much practice in. I’m only ever
here a couple weeks per year.
That’s not enough to really become
fluent.
JEFFREY
Sometimes I feel like I speak more
English here than back home.
Erin laughs over emphatically.
Jeffrey and Aaron’s food shows up.
JEFFREY
That’s me.
He runs up and grabs the food.
He stands with the tray for a moment, scanning the room for
a table.
ERIN
What’s your name?
Jeffrey clearly doesn’t want to answer the question
JEFFREY
Jeffrey.
ERIN
I’m Erin. It was nice to meet you.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 47.
JEFFREY
It was nice to meet you.
ERIN
Enjoy your last night here. And Bon
Voyage!
Jeffrey just nods, clearly off-put by her bubbly-ness. He
makes his way over towards the window and sits down. He
grabs one of the coffees and one of the boxes of McNuggets
and places them in front of him. He pushes the tray with the
other coffee and box of McNuggets towards the other side of
the table.
Aaron comes back down the stairs and sits across from
Jeffrey.
AARON
Last meal in Paris. Somehow this
feels oddly appropriate.
JEFFREY
It’s the only meal that my budget
will allow.
A beat
JEFFREY
Why’d you come to Paris?
AARON
I’d never been to Europe before. I
was deciding between here and
Florence. But I’d actually studied
French before, so it just made
sense.
JEFFREY
I met a girl a while ago who wasn’t
in our program. She left after two
weeks. She said she’d been dreaming
about coming here since she was
five years old. In her mind it was
the most magical place in the
world. She got here and realized
that it was just a place where
people live and immediately went
home.
AARON
I was pleasantly surprised. But I
didn’t have much of an expectation.
I don’t really like cities as a
general rule.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 48.
JEFFREY
Why not?
AARON
I probably read too much Thoreau. I
don’t know. I always get this urge
to "get back to nature." Then I do,
and I feel rejuvenated for a day or
so, then I realize I hate getting
rained on and being bit by bugs and
I retreat back to the cities. I
build up nature the same way that
girl built up Paris.
JEFFREY
I love cities. Cities are nature.
People always ignore that fact. But
humans occur naturally, which means
anything that we create is an act
of nature. Everyone wants to
believe that big ugly buildings are
some horrible imposition, but they
wouldn’t feel the same way about a
beaver dam.
AARON
I go back and forth. I have this
never ending desire to be out in
the wild. But you’re right, I do
always come back to civilization. I
never feel outside of "the wild."
Maybe it’s not nature I’m looking
for, maybe I just want to get away
from people.
JEFFREY
I definitely get that urge.
AARON
I’ve just had a breakthrough. I’m
not a transcendentalist... I’m a
misanthrope!
Jeffrey laughs.
JEFFREY
Eh, same thing.
Aaron laughs
AARON
You watch your mouth...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 49.
JEFFREY
No no... I’m definitely not
misanthropic. I do hate a lot of
people. Most of my facebook friends
are just people from high school
that I only keep in touch with for
the schadenfreude of seeing that
they got fat, or had a baby, or
already work some miserable desk
job.
AARON
You’re a bad man.
JEFFREY
I’ve never denied that. But I don’t
hate people in a general way.
That’s why I love cities.
Especially when you see one like
this.
Motions around him, at the inside of the McDonald’s but
clearly meaning Paris.
JEFFREY
To me, Paris is one of the most
amazing things in the world. It’s
full of the effects of human
potential. Just the architecture
alone. That’s one of the things
that makes me feel so alive here.
Every day, just by being in the
city, I feel like I’m doing
something. Even if I waste the
whole day, just walking around in
Paris means I was a part of
something huge. That’s amazing to
me. I love humankind because they
are capable of creating something
as amazing as Paris.
AARON
You love mankind. You just hate all
individual men.
JEFFREY
Yes. That seems fair to me.
AARON
You will hear no protest from me.
Jeffrey turns and looks out the window.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 50.
JEFFREY
The snow is insane. I thought it
didn’t snow like this in Paris.
AARON
I have no idea what it snows like
in Paris.
JEFFREY
You think your train will be fine?
AARON
I’m sure. If anything, I’d be
worried about your flight tomorrow.
JEFFREY
Nah, it’s got to let up by then.
The both stare out the relentless snow.
AARON
Everyone is talking about getting
together for a reunion next
Thanksgiving.
JEFFREY
Yeah.
AARON
Do you think it’ll happen?
JEFFREY
I don’t know. I feel like normally
I’m really terrible at keeping in
touch with people. Once they’re out
of my immediate vicinity I just
forget to make an effort. But I
also feel different towards all the
people I’ve met here. I honestly
have no idea.
AARON
I don’t see it happening.
JEFFREY
No?
AARON
Maybe a couple of us. But most of
us, when we get home will just fall
back into our normal lives.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 51.
JEFFREY
I’d believe it. I kind of hope not.
I like you guys.
AARON
Yeah. I do to. Though there is
something vaguely romantic about
coming to Paris forming a series of
intimate relationships and never
talking to each other again.
Jeffrey laughs.
JEFFREY
Much less romantic in practice than
it feels as an abstract concept.
AARON
Yeah, you’re probably right.
Jeffrey finishes his last chicken McNugget and downs the
last little bit of his coffee. Aaron is done with his
McNuggets already, but follows suit with his coffee.
JEFFREY
How long till you have to be at the
station.
AARON
I should probably go get my bags
and stuff in 20 minutes or so.
JEFFREY
Cool. Should we head out?
AARON
Yeah, sure.
They get up, bring their nugget boxes and cups to the
garbage and leave their trays on the counter. They head off
out through the front doors, back into the unforgiving snow.
EXT. RUE BUFFON - NIGHT
They step out onto the sidewalk. Jeffrey pulls his coat
closed again. They both take a minute to effectively re-wrap
their scarves.
They head off, along the fenced off Jardin Des Plantes, back
towards Gare D’Austerlitz.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 52.
AARON
Is there anything your excited for
back home?
JEFFREY
Yeah. Of course. I’m excited to see
my girlfriend in person for the
first time in months. It’ll be nice
to see my old friends and to have
Christmas at home with my family.
AARON
Yeah. I missed Christmas once
before and it was thoroughly
disappointing. Not looking forward
to doing that again this year.
JEFFREY
Yeah. Missing out on Christmas
would be pretty depressing for me.
I’m not a big holiday guy, but
Christmas still works on me.
AARON
Yeah. It didn’t work on me for a
long time. My parents got divorced
when I was young. Trading off
between them just kind of put a
damper on the whole thing.
JEFFREY
Yeah, I’m sure.
AARON
But now that I’ve gotten used to it
I’ve started enjoying it again.
Ironically, I never missed a
Christmas until I started actually
wanting to be around for it.
JEFFREY
You did it to yourself
subconsciously. To force yourself
to appreciate it more.
AARON
Maybe.
The Christmas lights are all up. It’s actually very quiet
and festive looking in this part of town. The buildings all
seem lit up to celebrate Christmas early.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 53.
JEFFREY
No plans for after the goat farm
yet?
AARON
No. Not yet. It’ll depend on how I
feel about the farm when I get
back. Maybe I’ll love it, and I’ll
try working with my uncle for a
little while.
JEFFREY
Yeah. Cool.
They continue walking as the buildings pass by, their
artificial lights shine through the falling snow.
AARON
Honestly, part of the reason I’m
not in a huge hurry to get back is
that I broke up with my somewhat
long-term girlfriend just before I
came. I kind of feel like I need
more time to sort through that
before I can return to my old life
you know?
JEFFREY
Ah, the age old situation.
AARON
Yeah. I don’t like to talk about
it. It sounds like everyone’s
story. Except yours. Everyone
either broke up with someone then
came here... or made a half-assed
attempt to stay together and got
broken up with or cheated on.
JEFFREY
You didn’t seem like someone who
just got out of a relationship. All
the other guys were out trying to
pick up girls every night.
Aaron laughs.
AARON
Yeah, I would have gone with, but
those guys are bros. I couldn’t
stand hanging out with them.
Jeffrey laughs.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 54.
AARON
No. I didn’t end it because I
planned on getting laid here like
everyone else apparently did. I
just knew it wasn’t going anywhere
in the long run, and it didn’t seem
worth doing the long distance thing
for something that was just going
to end once I come back anyway.
JEFFREY
You’re one of the good ones.
AARON
I don’t know. Maybe I’m just lazy.
JEFFREY
I don’t think so. Was she upset?
AARON
She didn’t let on that she was to
me. I’m sure she was maybe thinking
the same thing I was.
JEFFREY
Makes sense. Your plan was
infinitely better than Steven’s.
AARON
Steven?
JEFFREY
The blond guy. Isn’t his name
Steven?
AARON
Oh, Stefan.
JEFFREY
Yeah! I didn’t talk to him much. He
decided to do the open relationship
thing while he was gone.
Aaron laughs
AARON
Yeah, yeah. I remember. That’s
always the dumbest idea.
JEFFREY
I promise you it was his idea. I
bet he thought it would be the
coolest thing ever... but just
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 55.
JEFFREY (cont’d)didn’t consider that he isn’t a
particularly attractive guy, and
it’s significantly easier for a
woman to get laid than a guy.
Aaron laughs.
AARON
I shouldn’t laugh. He was really
upset about that.
Jeffrey laughs.
JEFFREY
Fuck him. That was his fault. He
literally told her to do it.
AARON
I think he just figured she
wouldn’t.
JEFFREY
I think he didn’t even think about
it at all until she did.
AARON
That’s always the way it works. The
guy always thinks it’ll be fun
until he realizes that it actually
goes both ways. Suddenly it’s no
fun anymore. He was better than
Carl though. Carl was doing the
long-distance thing. He would
literally be texting his girlfriend
back home while he was making out
with some girl at the club here.
JEFFREY
I think he had a crush on you.
AARON
Why?
JEFFREY
He was just always doing anything
you asked. He followed you around
like a puppy.
Aaron laughs.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 56.
AARON
I do have a theory about that. I
always suspected that guys who
pathologically cheat on their
girlfriends are secretly gay. As a
form of subconscious rebellion they
try to fuck as many women as
possible in order to simultaneously
compensate for their sexual
insecurities and as an act of
hostility towards the gender they
feel trapped into having sex with.
JEFFREY
Carl would be a prime example of
that.
AARON
He would never betray one of his
guy friends like that. He almost
cried if he showed up late to meet
me somewhere. He was so careful
never to disappoint me.
Jeffrey laughs.
JEFFREY
Oh my god. It’s too perfect.
AARON
It’s because deep down, it’s men he
loves. It’s other men that he wants
to feel proud of him and feels
inclined to maintain intimate
relationships with. Women are just
a subconscious obligation.
JEFFREY
You should have told him that.
AARON
It would have broken his heart.
JEFFREY
Someday, publish a novel with a
character named Carl who learns
that about himself. He’ll read it
just out of curiosity and it’ll eat
away at him forever.
AARON
I wish I was capable of that kind
of cruelty.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 57.
They walk through the snow. Their clothes are soaked through
by now. The snow is uncannily heavy.
They come across a Franprix.
AARON
I’ve got to run in here.
JEFFREY
Ok.
Jeffrey follows Aaron in through the front doors of the
Franprix.
INT. FRANPRIX - NIGHT
The supermarket is almost dead. The cashier looks up at
Aaron and Jeffrey as they walk into the store.
AARON
My favorite Haribos are here and
I’m not 100% sure they sell them
down south.
JEFFREY
I should get some of those too now
that I think about it.
They raid the candy aisle, pulling all assortments of Haribo
bags of candy from the shelves.
JEFFREY
So you came here single. Did you,
somewhere in the back of your mind,
hope to have a romantic fling in
Paris?
Aaron shoots Jeffrey a sultry look.
AARON
You mean other than this?
He motions between himself and Jeffrey.
Jeffrey laughs.
AARON
(Cont’d)
I don’t know. Definitely not on a
conscious level. I came with the
idea of escaping. Having half a
year to myself. Time to sort my
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 58.
AARON (cont’d)head out. But maybe I secretly
hoped something would present
itself.
JEFFREY
I’m not accusing you of anything.
It just seems like everyone here to
a certain extent came at least
partly in hopes of romance. Or at
very least sex.
AARON
I’m going to grab some stuff for
the train ride too.
They wander towards the back of the store. Looking at the
fridges with the cold drinks.
AARON
Maybe. What about you though? You
didn’t break things off with your
girlfriend.
JEFFREY
No. We’re in it for the long haul I
think. I had no intention of doing
anything, but I came knowing full
well that if I was single, I’d have
been hoping for a romantic
situation to arise.
Aaron grabs a bottle of juice from the shelf.
AARON
I don’t think this place is as
romantic as it’s cracked up to be.
JEFFREY
It really isn’t.
AARON
Everyone says there’s no place like
Paris for falling in love. But
really, there’s no place like Paris
for being lonely. It’s a city of
lonely people passing each other by
with no intention of ever not being
lonely. That’s why people don’t
smile at strangers on the street.
That’s why people don’t stop and
ask for directions. They don’t want
that interaction. They need to feel
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 59.
AARON (cont’d)alone. Everyone is in a monogamous
relationship with this city. That’s
why everyone here is cheating on
each other. They’re doing
everything they can to distance
themselves from other people so
they can give themselves more fully
to the city.
JEFFREY
Paris is a succubus.
AARON
Most definitely. You end up giving
it your life willingly, but you
don’t even really know why you’re
so attracted to it.
JEFFREY
Damn. It got me.
AARON
You’ll be okay. You’re on a limited
timetable. It’s spell will be
broken tomorrow.
They make their way to the front. The cashier flashes a look
of ridicule, which neither of them seem to even notice.
They both pay for their candy and return back out into the
snow.
EXT. RUE BUFFON - NIGHT
The stand outside the Franprix looking around.
AARON
I have nowhere else that I actually
need to go.
JEFFREY
Yeah, me neither.
AARON
I guess I should head to the
station then.
JEFFREY
Yeah sure.
They both set off towards Gare d’Austerlitz.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 60.
They walk silently, swiftly through the snow. Both of them
looking down at their feet as they walk, squinting to keep
the snow out of their eyes.
They arrive at the station.
EXT. GARE D’AUSTERLITZ METRO STATION - NIGHT
They stop and both stare at the station. It looks imposing,
and dark compared to all the buildings around it.
AARON
It was good running into you today.
I would have been absurdly bored if
I hadn’t.
JEFFREY
Yeah, I just would have wandered
around alone.
They hug.
They break away from the hug and stand awkwardly, neither
really knowing what to say.
AARON
Look, I know everybody says this,
but we should definitely meet up
back in the States some time.
JEFFREY
Yeah, definitely.
AARON
We’re only like 8 hours away from
each other. That’s a short road
trip.
JEFFREY
I would certainly like that.
AARON
Now, I’m going to leave. And you’re
going to be the last one here in
Paris. It’s going to be just you
and the city. I’m the last guest at
your party and you’ll be home
alone. So you can finally
appreciate the crushing solitude
this city has to offer.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 61.
JEFFREY
That’ll be nice.
They stand silently. Looking around.
JEFFREY
I’m going to miss you. It’s been a
great half-year and you had a lot
to do with that.
AARON
Yeah. Same here.
JEFFREY
Let me know how the goat farm
business is. Also, send me your
book when you finish. I seriously
do want to read it.
AARON
I will.
A beat.
AARON
Have a good last night in Paris.
JEFFREY
Thanks.
AARON
See you.
JEFFREY
See you.
They both stand a moment in silence. They both move forward
and embrace the other in a hug. Aaron puts his face next to
Jeffrey’s. Presses his lips against his cheek. Jeffrey does
the same, imitating the French greeting style, but not
really getting it quite right. They switch cheeks. They
break off from the hug. And stand another moment in brief
silence.
Aaron turns and slowly walks into Gare d’Austerlitz. Jeffrey
stands, holding his coat closed as tightly as he can. Aaron
becomes more and more obscured by the heavilly falling snow,
and then he disappears into the station.
Jeffrey turns and looks around at the night. There is no one
around. No people walking. No cars driving down the road.
Paris is empty.
He turns and makes his way back down Quai d’Austerlitz.
62.
EXT. BERCY - NIGHT
Jeffrey crosses the bridge over the river. Coming from the
Paris library towards Bercy.
The bridge is quiet, though down below the Seine is flowing
completely unhindered by the snow.
EXT. BERCY VILLAGE - NIGHT
This seems to be the only place in Paris where people are
still out and about. The different stores and cafés shine a
warm yellow light into the cold where Jeffrey is walking. He
slides along the cobblestone, barely even lifting up his
feet as walks.
A young man and a woman emerge from a café, arguing. They
are walking towards Jeffrey, they don’t even seem to notice
him as they get closer and closer.
Sure enough, they reach Jeffrey and the man accidentally
shoulder checks him, and continues walking as if nothing
happened.
Jeffrey stops and looks around the shopping area. It’s like
a manufactured idea of Europe. It’s clearly a modern
structure designed to look like the Paris of the past.
Somehow though, it works.
A slight smile creeps across Jeffrey’s face and continues
walking along the path towards the huge cineplex at the end
of the path.
INT. METRO TRAIN - NIGHT
Jeffrey sits on a seat on the metro. Watching the other
people on the train.
There is an older man in his late 50s or early 60s without a
seat. He is standing in the center of the aisle reading a
book. He stands in a bizarre half-crouching position. With
every small shift of the train he attempts to counteract by
squatting down low to the ground, then slowly raising
himself back up. He does it rhythmically almost as if it
were part of a dance. He never once takes his eyes off his
book.
Every time he turns the page it’s very deliberate. As if he
had practiced this a thousand times. As if this were merely
a performance. A performance that no one is actually
watching... except for Jeffrey.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 63.
The train stops. The doors open and few people step off. Two
young haggard looking boys step on. The older one has a beat
up old classical guitar fastened around his shoulders with a
dirty shoelace. The younger one just stands next to him with
a somber face.
The doors to the train close.
Jeffrey shifts his focus from the dancing/reading man over
to these two boys who have just entered the train.
The older boy grabs his guitar and begins to finger pick
some sort of Spanish-style classical song. After a few
measures the younger boy opens his mouth and begins to sing.
His voice is flawless. The almost cliché voice that is
always associated with a Botticelli angel, but here put to
more unique use, singing something very pure, but less
Baroque than typical.
Jeffrey leans forward in his seat watching the boys
intently.
The man dancing with his book doesn’t seem to have even
noticed the two boys. But for some reason his squats
downward are in perfect rhythm with the music. Every minor
gesture and movement he makes seems choreographed to the
music the two boys are playing.
Now Jeffrey’s eyes are transfixed onto the man.
He turns back to the boys, who finish their song. Just as
the train pulls up to the next station. They each hold out a
hand and wander down the aisle, speaking incomprehensible
French. A couple people hand them a coin or two.
Jeffrey watches quietly from his seat. The younger boy
reaches Jeffrey, his hand is less than an inch from his
face. Jeffrey shifts his eyes towards the "dancing" man. The
older boy is holding his hand out to him, trying to get his
attention. The man doesn’t look up from his book, the boy
moves on.
Jeffrey’s eyes shift back to the boy in front of his face.
He makes eye contact, then breaks it, fixing a point on the
ground just like a real Frenchman. The boy pulls away and
continues down the aisle. The boys meet back up and step off
the train. The doors close. The train begins moving again.
Jeffrey turns and looks out the window. Watching as the two
boys stand at the platform, counting the coins while they
wait for the next train to arrive. The train disappears into
a tunnel, and the two boys disappear from sight.
64.
EXT. FAIDHERBE-CHALIGNEY METRO - NIGHT
Jeffrey emerges from the metro station, into the
mini-blizzard. There is a black man grilling corn over a
metal barrel at the top of the stairs. Jeffrey stands at the
top of the station for a moment. There seems to be no where
to go from here.
He heads back towards the bakery.
INT. BOULANGERIE - NIGHT.
The same baker from the morning notices him.
BAKER
(In french)
Hot chocolate?
Jeffrey nods. The baker puts a cup of hot chocolate
together. Jeffrey waits patiently. He looks around the
bakery examining the decor, glancing over the rest of the
pastries on display.
The baker returns to the counter and hands Jeffrey the cup.
Jeffrey fishes the last few coins from his pocket and hands
them to the baker. He heads towards the door. Stops. He
takes a sip.
He turns back towards the baker and waves. The baker waves
without really acknowledging him.
Jeffrey turns and steps back out into the snow.
EXT. PARIS SIDEWALK - NIGHT
Jeffrey takes a few steps down the sidewalk. He stops, takes
another small sip of the hot chocolate. He looks at the cup.
He looks around to see if anyone is watching him. There
seems to be no one in particular nearby. He pulls the lid
from the cup, leans down towards the street and pours the
hot chocolate out into the street.
He puts the lid back on the cup and places it gently in the
street next to the curb. He stands up.
Jeffrey turns around and heads towards Rue Montreuil.
As he is crossing the street a car comes careening towards
him. It slams on the breaks, clearly not used to the winter
conditions. The car slides forward. Jeffrey bolts out of the
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 65.
way, sliding ridiculously. He gets to the sidewalk as the
car slides past him through the intersection, finally coming
to a stop on the other side. After a moment, the car starts
slowly rolling forward and continues on its way. Jeffrey
stands for a moment, dazed by what almost just happened.
He continues down the road. Most of the stores are closed
now, though several of the cafe’s are running behind the
awnings, with heat lamps for the smokers.
He passes a small park. Several old man can just barely be
seen playing on jungle gym, sliding down the slide, enjoying
the snow, while their 40 something sons watch them from the
ground.
Jeffrey finally makes it back to the small alleyway on which
the foyer is located.
He walks up to the building. Swipes his card. The doors
opens and he enters.
INT. FOYER COMMON ROOM - NIGHT
Ètienne a fat, burned out looking man is standing behind the
counter quickly scribbling some sort of note. He looks up
and notices Jeffrey. He looks confused to see him.
Ètienne’s reaction stops Jeffrey in his tracks.
ÈTIENNE
What are you doing here?
Jeffrey now shoots a confused look back to Ètienne.
ÈTIENNE
You haven’t left?
JEFFREY
My flight’s tomorrow.
ÈTIENNE
(under his breath)
Putain.
He runs back into his office behind the front desk and
begins shuffling through all of his papers.
Jeffrey continues forward into the foyer’s common room.
There are less people than that morning, but those that
remain are still organized by nationality.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 66.
Jeffrey scans the room. The Chinese girl is still sitting in
the same spot, still speaking in Chinese to someone on her
computer as if she had never even moved.
One of the Italians looks up and notices Jeffrey. He waves
politely. Jeffrey waves back. The Italian goes back to his
conversation with his countrymen.
Ètienne bursts into the common room like freight train,
running full speed towards Jeffrey.
ÈTIENNE
We’ve given your room away. You
didn’t tell us you were staying
longer than all the others.
Jeffrey stares blankly at Ètienne.
ÈTIENNE
Go to the youth hostel near Gare du
Nord. It is not too expensive.
Ètienne turns and heads back towards his office.
Jeffrey scans the room cautiously one last time. There is no
one he feels comfortable approaching.
He makes his way up the stairs towards his dorm room.
INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT
Jeffrey peers in slowly through the door. The room now looks
occupied, though there is no one in it. His suitcase is
sitting next to the door. He takes a couple steps into the
room, looking around for any remaining items that might be
there. He grabs his suitcase and heads back out into the
hall, closing the door quietly behind him.
INT. FOYER COMMON ROOM - NIGHT
Jeffrey makes his way to the front door. He drops his keys
and his swipe card on the front desk, in front of Ètienne.
ÈTIENNE
As far as I know all the flights
out of Paris have been cancelled
because of all the snow. Maybe you
can spend Christmas in Paris this
year.
67.
Jeffrey nods acknowledging that he heard the information but
without approving of the sentiment. He turns and pulls his
suitcase through the front door and awkwardly into the snow.
EXT. PARIS SIDEWALK - NIGHT
Jeffrey stands aimlessly with his suitcase by his side.
Looking around. The snow is falling just as heavily as it
has been for hours now. He looks down the road. No one.
Paris is still empty.
He turns right and heads away from the foyer.
EXT. PARIS 11TH ARRONDISSMENT - NIGHT
The snow falls. The 11th Arrondissment is lit up like a
Christmas tree.
Place de la Bastille is quieter than before. The snow has
kept most of the traffic away, it’s almost pristine. The
monument is almost a stand in for a Christmas tree with all
the snow falling around it.
Nation is similarly quiet, but the Cafés look inviting.
People look warm and festive through the plastic windows
that have been set up around the sidewalk café tables. Like
Bob Cratchett’s Christmas party.
Le Chateau de Vincennes still glows in the dark. It’s forest
now almost pure white. The castle itself much less imposing
than before now that it’s covered in snow, and surrounding
by sparkling lights.
EXT. PARIS PARK - NIGHT
Jeffrey is sitting on a bench in the park. His suitcase is
unzipped on the ground next to him. Slowly collecting a pile
of snow on top of itself. He is using a large knitted
sweater as a blanket. He is staring at the lights, snow
falling in front of them.
He glances around the empty park. It’s solitary, but
peaceful. He shivers slightly.
The sounds of Paris at night are in full swing. There are a
few dogs in the distance barking and a few vehicles on the
surrounding streets.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 68.
He brushes the snow off of the part of his shirt which is
exposed by his open coat. He grabs the edges of his coat and
pulls it closed across his torso. He relaxes, keeping his
arms folded across his chest to keep his coat from falling
open again.
He leans his head back and closes his eyes. The snow
continues to fall, slowly burying him beneath it.
THE END
