Swingers

1 EXT. HOLLYWOOD - NIGHT 1

The soundtrack opens with Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the

Moon".

A HELICOPTER SHOT OF THE L.A. basin.

The pool of golden light disintegrates into the thousands of

points which constitute it as we rapidly draw closer to the

city.

We are just above the tops of the highest buildings as we

approach Hollywood Boulevard. Below is neon and the icy

thrust of search lights rotating on the corner of Hollywood

and Vine.

We continue west, then quickly north.

There is the momentary appearance of the moonlit HOLLYWOOD

sign as we pass the blinking red beacon of the Capital

Records building and drop into Franklin avenue and over the

101.

Architectural remnants of Hollywood's past whip up. We are

heading east at treetop level. A warm glow in the distance

quickly grows into a modest commercial strip which includes

cafes, bookstores, and a theater.

We drop to eye level as we spy through the plate glass

showcase window of the "Bourgeois Pig" coffeehouse, which

holds the translucent reflection of the full moon.

A cigarette wedged between knuckles smoulders. MIKE takes

the last drag with great effort, then crushes it out. He

sits in the window sprawled across a red velvet couch that

once perfectly complemented a faux spanish foyer.

MATCH CUT TO:

2 EXT. "BOURGEOIS PIG" COFFEEHOUSE - COUCHES AND TABLE IN FRONT 2

WINDOW - NIGHT

ROB sits down next to Mike, pouring himself some tea.

MIKE:

And what if I don't want to give up on

her?

ROB:

You don't call.

MIKE:

But you said I shouldn't call if I

wanted to give up on her.

ROB:

Right.

MIKE:

So I don't call either way.

ROB:

Right.

MIKE:

So what's the difference?

ROB:

The only difference between giving up and

not giving up is if you take her back

when she wants to come back. See, you

can't do anything to make her want to

come back. You can only do things to

make her not want to come back.

MIKE:

So the only difference is if I forget

about her or pretend to forget about her.

ROB:

Right.

MIKE:

Well that sucks.

ROB:

It sucks.

MIKE:

So it's almost a retroactive decision.

So I could, like, let's say, forget about

her and when she comes back make like I

just pretended to forget about her.

ROB:

Right...or more likely the opposite.

MIKE:

Right... Wait, what do you mean?

ROB:

I mean first you'll pretend not to care,

not call - whatever, and then,

eventually, you really won't care.

MIKE:

Unless she comes back first.

ROB:

Ah, see, that's the thing. Somehow they

don't come back until you really don't

care anymore.

MIKE:

There's the rub.

ROB:

There's the rub.

MIKE:

Thanks, man. Sorry we always talk about

the same thing all the time...

ROB:

Hey man, don't sweat it.

MIKE:

...It's just that you've been there.

Your advice really helps.

ROB:

No problem.

MIKE:

Rob, I just want you to know, you're the

only one I can talk to about her.

ROB:

Thanks. Thanks, man.

DISSOLVE TO:

3 INT. MIKE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 3

Close up on answering machine. Mike pushes the button.

ANSWERING MACHINE

(synthesized voice)

Hello, you have five messages.

Mike's eyes light up. He paces in anticipation as the tape

rewinds.

ANSWERING MACHINE

(male voice)

Hey, baby. It's Trent. I hope you're

feeling better about your old girlfriend.

I hope my advice helped...

Mike fast-forwards to next message.

ANSWERING MACHINE

(synthesized voice)

Skipping message.

(male voice)

Whatsup, Mike. If you want to talk some

more about Michelle...

(synthesized voice)

Skipping message.

(female voice)

Mike, it's Chris. Feeling better yet

about...?

(synthesized voice)

Skipping message.

Tension grows with every inch of spooling tape. Did she

leave a message?

ANSWERING MACHINE

(female voice)

Hi, Mike. Did she call yet? If she

didn't then she doesn't deserve...

(synthesized voice)

Skipping message.

The last one. It's a long shot, but he's got the faith.

ANSWERING MACHINE

(elderly female voice)

Michael, this is Grandma. I want to know

if you got the part on that television

program. I told the whole family and

they're very excited to know if...

(synthesized voice)

Skipping message. End of final message.

MIKE:

(lighting a cigarette,

defeated)

Sh*t.

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