Smoke Page #2

We see PAUL'S rescuer: it is RASHID COLE, a black adolescent of sixteen

or seventeen. He is tall and well built for his age. A nylon backpack

is slung over his left shoulder.

RASHID:

Watch out, man. You'll get yourself killed like

that.

PAUL:

(Badly shaken, still

clinging to RASHID'S arm)

I can't believe I did that ... Christ. I'm

walking around in a fog ...

RASHID:

No harm done. Everything's okay now.

(Looks down and notices that he and

PAUL are still gripping each other's

arms. Tries to pull away)

I've got to be going.

PAUL:

(Still rattled. Begins to loosen grip,

then grabs hold of RASHID'S again)

No, wait. You can't just walk off.

(Pause)

You saved my life.

RASHID:

(Shrugs)

I just happened to be there. The right place

at the right time.

PAUL:

(Relaxes grip on RASHID'S arm)

I owe you something.

RASHID:

It's okay, mister. No big deal.

PAUL:

Yes it is. It's a law of the universe. If I let

you walk away, the moon will spin out of orbit

... pestilence will reign over the city for a

hundred years.

RASHID:

(Mystified, amused. Smiles faintly)

Well, if you put it that way...

PAUL:

You have to let me do something for you to put

the scales in balance.

RASHID:

(Thinks, shakes his head)

That's all right. If I think of something, I'll

send my butler over to tell you.

PAUL:

Come on. At least let me buy you a cup of

coffee.

RASHID:

I don't drink coffee.

(Smiles)

On the other hand, since you insist, if you

offered me a cold lemonade. I wouldn't say no.

PAUL:

Good. Lemonade it is.

(Pause. Extends right hand)

I'm Paul.

RASHID:

Rashid. Rashid Cole.

(Shakes PAUL'S hand)

Cut to:

6.INT:
DAY. GREEK DINER IN PARK SLOPE

PAUL and RASHID are sitting in a booth. The restaurant is nearly empty.

We see RASHID finishing his second lemonade.

PAUL:

(Watching RASHID drink)

Are you sure you don't want some food to go

along with it? It might help to absorb some of

that liquid. You don't want to slosh around

too much when you stand up.

RASHID:

That's okay. I've already had lunch.

PAUL:

(Looks at clock on wall)

You must eat lunch pretty early. It's only

eleven o'clock.

RASHID:

I mean breakfast.

PAUL:

(Studying RASHID closely)

Yeah, sure, and I bet you had lobster last

night. Along with two bottles of champagne.

RASHID:

Just one bottle. I believe in moderation.

PAUL:

Look, kid, it's okay with me. You don't have to

play games. If you want a hamburger or

something, go ahead and order it.

RASHID:

(Hesitates)

Well, maybe just one. To be polite.

PAUL:

(Turning to WAITRESS. She comes)

Cocktail hour is over. The young man would

like to order a hamburger.

WAITRESS:

(To RASHID)

How do you want that cooked?

RASHID:

Medium rare, please.

WAITRESS:

Fries?

RASHID:

(Looks at PAUL. PAUL nods)

Yes, please.

WAITRESS:

Lettuce and tomato?

RASHID:

(Looks at PAUL. PAUL nods)

Yes, please.

WAITRESS:

(Pointing to RASHID'S empty

lemonade glass)

You want another one of these, too?

PAUL:

Yeah, give him another one. And I'll take a cup

of coffee while you're at it.

WAITRESS:

Hot coffee or iced coffee?

PAUL:

Do you have real iced coffee, or do you just

pour hot coffee over some ice cubes?

WAITRESS:

Everything is real in here, honey.

(Pause)

As real as the color of my hair.

PAUL and RASHID look at her hair. It is dyed bright red.

PAUL:

(Deadpan)

I'll take the iced coffee.

(Pause)

You only live once, right?

WAITRESS:

(Equally deadpan)

If you're lucky.

(Pause)

Then again, it depends on what you call living.

(She walks off)

PAUL:

(To RASHID)

I don't mean to pry, but I see a kid walking

around with a big knapsack on his back, and I

begin to wonder if all his worldly possessions

aren't stowed in there. Are you in some kind of

trouble or what?

RASHID:

(Keeping up his pose)

Mostly what.

PAUL:

(Studying RASHID)

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to,

but I might be able to help.

RASHID:

(Hesitating)

You don't know me from a hole in the wall.

PAUL:

That's true. But I also owe you something, and

I'm not sure that buying you a hamburger is

going to do the job.

(Pause)

What is it? Family problems? Money problems?

RASHID:

(Imitating white upper-class accent)

Oh no. Momsie and Popsie have oodles.

PAUL:

And where do Momsie and Popsie live?

Rate this script:4.3 / 4 votes