Aftertaste Page #14

Season #1 Episode #1

---

DEREK:

This is Peter.

Peter leans forward to shake Melody Rae’s hand with his

left hand. He’s left-handed like Wille and she acknowledges this with her eyes. She consciously switches and reaches out with her left hand.

MELODY RAE:

Hi...um...

They both share an awkward switching of hands at the wrong moment to accommodate the other, until finally Peter pulls her in for a hug instead.

MELODY RAE:

Melody Rae.

PETER:

Peter James Kelly...I’m left-handed.

Making direct eye contact Peter apologizes with his face, and then proceeds to unstrap his cue stick secured in a case he has harnessed around his back.

MELODY RAE:

Obviously...so you have three first names?

PETER:

Threes a charm.

They share a flirtatious moment.

MELODY RAE:

Whose turn is it?

MELODY RAE Whose turn is it?

DEREK:

I believe it was mine, but Peter, you go ahead for me. We' re playing eight ball, I'm solids. I'm gonna go to the bar and order us another round of drinks before it gets busy in here. Is everyone cool with the same?

Melody Raw nods. And without taking his eyes off her, Peter also nods. Melody Rae walks directly to the pool table and begins chalking her cue stick trying to avoid direct eye contact. Peter connects his stylish cue stick and takes an impressive shot landing two solids in the right-side pocket. Melody Rae then takes her shot. The two go back and forth. The closer propinquity they are to one another the more chemistry is revealed through looks and body language.

PETER Poison?

MELODY RAE Excuse me?

PETER:

Your perfume? Is it Poison?

MELODY RAE:

Uh, yeah.

PETER:

It's nice.

MELODY RAE:

Thank you.

The two continue to play pool' as chemistry builds.

PETER:

So, you keep staring at my hat? What's up with that? Are you a Bud drinker?

MELODY RAE:

No w—a—a—ay!

PETER:

(chuckles)

Well, there goes that sale.

MELODY RAE:

What do you mean by that?

DEREK:

(Returning carrying drinks) Peter drives truck for Budweiser. He was probably hoping to sell you some beer on the side.

(looks at Peter)

Always lookin' to make a buck, aren't ya, Peter?

PETER:

Jeez, Derek. You' re making me sound like a slime—ball.

(Derek laughs)

I was just trying to impress a beautiful young redhead, who happens to be a sensational pool player.

Melody Rae smirks, rolls her eyes, and then resumes concentrating on what move to make next. Peter leans toward Derek, who is now sitting at a tall table directly across the pool table from Melody Rae.

PETER:

(loudly and with intention)

Do you think she' 11 go out with me?

MELODY RAE No.

PETER (laughing)

WOW! That was quick.

(pause)

What if I treated you to dinner and you

didn't have to pay for a thing? I would

pay for everything.

MELODY RAE:

Uh, hello! You should always be the one

who pays. You' re the guy!

PETER:

(mimicking Melody Rae) Hello?!

PETER:

Come on. Just go out with me once and you'll see. I'm a good guy, I can assure you.

MELODY RAE:

No.

PETER:

So, there' s absolutely no way I can convince you to go out with me?

MELODY RAE:

Well. . . not unless your birthday is June nineteenth, 1969.

Peter and Derek looked at each other with their mouth' s hanging wide open as If they'd been struck by a thunderbolt of lightning. And then Peter tilted his head and looked at me as if he'd won a pyrrhic victory.

PETER:

It is.

MELODY RAE:

N—o—o—o. Come on! Enough already. . .

seriously?! Yeah, right? Give me a break.

PETER:

You want me to prove it?

(reaching into back pocket)

MELODY RAE:

What? You can prove it? Whatever.

PETER Uh, yeah.

MELODY RAE:

No. There is no way. C'mon! Get outta here.

DEREK:

It is!

Peter takes out his wallet from the back pocket of his Wrangler jeans, opens it up, pulls out his license and hands it to Melody Rae with subtle confidence. Melody Rae abruptly seizes the license and takes a close look at the date.

REVEAL:
up close view of date on license: June 19, 1969

Melody Rae gasps and drops it on the table. And then placing her hand over her mouth and shaking her head, turns around and frenetically runs to the restroom. Inside bathroom Melody Rae shuffles through her purse, finds some change to make a call, and at the hall pay phone leaves a message on Kat' s home phone. Then she calmly approaches Derek, who is sitting and taking a sip of his beer, while Peter is near the pool table taking a corner pocket shot. Derek looks at me with total puzzlement and consternation.

DEREK Are you okay?

MELODY RAE:

Yes, I'll explain later.

PETER:

How does next Friday night sound?

Seven—thirty good for you?

MELODY RAE:

(rolling eyes)

Fine.

A group of Derek and Peter' s mutual friends show up at the bar, and Melody is introduced to a couple of ladies, Tessa and Gretchen, who distract her from Peter.

REVEAL:
Clock shows that it is nearly one o' clock. Everyone is hugging and saying bye and waiting outside for taxi service. Just after Melody Rae hugs Derek and turns around, Peter is in her face.

65

PETER:

Where have you been all night?

MELODY RAE Right here...

(taxi drives up)

And now I must go.

(runs to taxi, opens door)

PETER:

Should I get your number from Derek?

MELODY RAE:

Uh, okay...yeah, I guess that'd be fine.

PETER:

(yells)

I' 11 call ya!

REVEAL:
Peter calls Melody Rae. She turns him down. Then through a series of events via mutual friends they see one another. Using body language Peter continues trying to convince her to date him: backyard barbecue' s (beer pong using a door for the table), Karaoke at The Toolbox Pub, Houseboat on Lake Shasta. Like Willie, Peter is gregarious with women, and always has a drink in his hand. The difference is Peter's drink of choice is not Budweiser beer, but Jack Daniel's whiskey (he carries a flask). He starts to make his interest more obvious; showing up at Petite Paws with a friend's dog to get groomed, stopping by her house in his Budweiser delivery truck to offer her a discount on beer. Each time an excuse to ask her to dinner. And each time she denies him.

INT. PETITE PAWSMORNING - MID MAY

Melody Rae' s new friend Gretchen walks in the door.

GRETCHEN:

Do you have time for a quick break?

MELODY RAE:

Sure. I actually don't have an appointment until one.

(beckons her into the office)

66

GRETCHEN:

You know, Melody Rae, girls flock to Peter. He' s charming, he's a character and he's funny. He was the most popular catch in high school. But he was a player, and no one thought he'd ever be interested in just one girl. . . until now. This is the longest he' s ever been single. I don't even think he’s been hooking up with anyone, which is not typical of him at all.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes