Aftertaste Page #3

Season #1 Episode #1

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LOU:

Looking for something?

MELODY RAE:

Uh, yea-h-h-h, I lost something...but I’m not

sure I ever had it.

LOU:

Huh?

MELODY RAE:

(pulls out her red lipstick)

Never mind, I found it.

SHAY:

She can’t live without her lipstick.

(takes a healthy sip of beer)

After a seemingly long stare at her wine glass Melody Rae stands.

MELODY RAE:

Sorry, um, I just remembered I have to

retire early, I have a client who needs me

to come in before opening hours. . .totally

spaced it. Sorry. This should cover more

than my share and the tip.

Melody Rae throws a healthy wad of cash on the table and rapidly exits the doors of the Hard Rock Café, and then bolts down the sidewalk, tears streaming down her face, running at top speed all the way to the Powell Street Station to take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train home.

INT. MELODY RAE’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Melody Rae is soaking in a bubble bath and drinking directly from a bottle of cheap Charles Shaw wine from Trader Joes.

DISSOLVE TO:

Melody Rae replays the time in high school when she felt guilty for kissing another guy, Miles, while also interested in Shay.

MELODY RAE:

(to self)

Maybe I deserve this.

INT. GRANT HIGH SCHOOL – THEATER CLASSROOM - DAY

The class is nearly empty. Miles and Melody Rae are sitting side by side leafing through a Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespearian script, smiling and giggling at their shared interpretation. They get up and begin walking side by side out the door of the theater class where Shay is waiting to walk with her.

MILES BOCELLI—16, Italian, boisterous, average height, dark haired, writer.

MILES:

Oh, hey Shay.

SHAY:

(nods toward Miles)

Hey Melody Rae! I got out early, can I

Walk you home?

MELODY RAE:

Uh, sure.

MILES:

You guys dating?

SHAY:

(looks at Melody Rae)

MELODY RAE:

NO.

MILES:

(winks at Melody Rae)

OK. See you guys around.

Melody Rae is decked out in patriotic attire; U.S. flag dress and blue tights covered with stars with red boots.

EXT. PORTLAND, OREGON – NIGHT (Fourth of July 1984)

INT. RUBINO’S SANDWICH SHOP

The theatre class is finishing taking a group photo. After the photo is taken Melody Rae hugs her friend’s goodbye and then heads out the door. Miles catches up to her.

MILES:

Listen, I’ll walk you home. It’s on my way.

MELODY RAE:

Sure.

Melody Rae and Miles walk past Giovanni’s Wine Bistro and then get to Freddie’s Jazz Club. Music is emanating from the large open windows. Miles stops and grabs Melody Rae’s hand preventing her from walking farther.

MILES:

Listen.

Ricky Lee Jones song, Danny’s All-Star Joint, is sifting through the open windows. Melody Rae and Miles look at each other and share an indescribable connection in that moment. Miles pulls her in tight, swirls her around in a traditional swing style move, they’ve practiced many times before. They both beam with enthusiasm while winking at one another and rocking with the beat. Melody Rae giggles as Miles twirls her and dips her as they sang the lyrics together. The music increases as patrons crowd in the doorway. When nearly every customer is gawking through the open windows, the song ends, the crowd whistles and start clapping. Miles then pulls Melody Rae close and kisses her. Melody Rae turns to face the jazz club and curtsies. Miles gently takes her hand and waltzes her to the end of the corner sidewalk where they sit on the curb, lean up against one another, laugh deliriously and flirtatiously.

Fireworks begin to erupt high above their heads. Miles pivots toward Melody Rae.

MILES:

We’re simpatico.

(beat)

Marry me?

MELODY RAE:

Sure.

They both get the giggles. Miles leans back onto the sidewalk and goads Melody Rae to lie down next to him. She does, and as she lies there a tear trickles down her cheek.

Shay and Patrick drive up in his father’s 1957 Cadillac convertible.

MELODY RAE:

(head in her hands)

Oh, I’m so sorry, Miles. I forgot I

promised Shay I’d watch fireworks with him.

Melody Rae waves with disappointment on her face as she gets into the convertible and drives away.

DISSOLVE TO:
MELODY RAE’S APARTMENT - 1988

MELODY RAE:

(to self)

No way am I going to be the one feeling

guilty. I wasn’t even dating Shay when I

kissed Miles.

She takes a victory swig from the wine bottle.

INT. MELODY RAE’S APARTMENT – EVENING

SUPERIMPOSE:
FEBRUARY 12, 1988

Melody Rae is sitting at her dining table staring past her small kitchen at Shay’s luggage stacked near the front door entrance hallway and eating one chocolate after another from a box of Valentine chocolates. Shay walks in the door. He looks at her, and then at his luggage. He nods toward Melody Rae, and then nonchalantly snubs out his Kretek clove cigarette in his comedy-tragedy theatre mask shaped ashtray sitting on the kitchen counter, coughs, grabs his luggage and exits.

DISSOLVE TO:
Apartment door closes.

DISSOLVE TO:
Movie theater door opens.

INT. SAN FRANCISCO CINEMARK THEATER – EVENING

REVEAL:
Framed poster; Midnight Showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show framed in the hallway of theater. Melody Rae is behind the ticket/concession stand counter. A tall dark, handsome man approaches the counter followed by a young woman.

ZEEK GIOVANNI—(King Salmon) 29, Italian, tall (six-foot-

five), dark haired, winery cashier.

YOUNG WOMAN—27, petite, attractive, long, straight,

dark brown hair.

ZEEK:

Hi. Two.

MELODY RAE:

(lost in her attraction to him)

Sorry?

ZEEK:

Two tickets...

(beat)

to the show.

MELODY RAE:

Of course.

Melody Rae checks both their I.D.’s rather quickly, and nervously hands the gentleman the two tickets, and then shuffles to the side where the concession counter is.

MELODY RAE:

Popcorn and soda?

ZEEK:

Yes. One medium coca cola, one small diet

and a medium popcorn, extra butter. I want

to be dripping.

MELODY RAE:

(giggles)

That’s how I like it.

The handsome man stares deeply at MELODY RAE while waiting for the popcorn. Their hands touch when she hands him the popcorn and sodas, and she breathes in his strong scent which makes her smile. The YOUNG WOMAN glares at MELODY RAE while she does the money transaction, and then clutching tightly to this gentleman leads him gruffly through the theater doors, causing him to spill some of his popcorn and part of his soda. He lets go of her hand to pick up the lid and straw which flew off his soda as she marches ahead. And then after standing, he looks back at MELODY RAE smiling apologetically. MELODY RAE waves both hands as if to say

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