The Bionic Woman Page #2

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BECCA:

We've only got two more years where

you have to pretend like you give a

damn, so let's just make it through

them without killing each other, ok?

Becca SLAMS the car door shut and heads into school without

looking back.

Jaime runs her hand through her hair, frustrated -- then

hastily glances at her watch, realizing how LATE it is.

JAIME:

Goddammit.

EXT. STARBUCKS -- DAY

The one, the only. A LINE of patrons SNAKES out the door.

We might notice a large, modern HOSPITAL across the street.

Jaime desperately tries to find a parking place-- between

two SUV'S, she sees what looks like a space, starts turning -

-- and realizes too late it's TAKEN, by a small blue PORSCHE,

parked across two spaces and pulled so far forward it was

hidden behind the SUV. Jaime grits her teeth as she starts

to back up, cars HONKING BEHIND HER.

INT. STARBUCKS -- DAY

Jaime hastily ties on her apron as she comes to the drink-

prep area, joining a dark-haired, warm YOUNG WOMAN, MAGGIE,

who's taking written-on cups from the cashiers and making

coffees at BLINDING SPEED.

MAGGIE:

(pointing out)

Twenty-three minutes. I'm gonna get

carpal tunnel -

(puts up a drink)

Triple shot latte, extra foam!

JAIME:

(apologetically)

I had to park in outer Mongolia.

Jaime starts pouring and mixing as well. They keep working

as they talk, putting up drinks as they go.

7.

MAGGIE:

Venti cappucino, soy!

(back to Jaime)

Yeah, Pretentious Porsche Guy has

been here since dawn.

She nods over at a GUY sitting at a table with a brand new

laptop computer. Mid-twenties, good looking in a poser way.

JAIME:

How can he even own that car when

all he does is sit in here all day,

pretend to write, and harass us?

(puts up drink)

Hazelnut vanilla latte!

(back to Maggie,

ranting)

Doesn't he have a job?

Maggie gives her an appraising glance.

MAGGIE:

Wow, Jaime's hostile. That's -strangely

refreshing.

JAIME:

(steaming milk)

I'm not hostile. It's just, if he

asks me why he can't have a free

refill one more time I'm gonna pour

one down his pants.

(puts up drink)

Caffé Mocha!

(relenting)

I'm having a bad morning, that's

all.

MAGGIE:

Just don't pee in anyone's cappucino,

ok?

(puts up drink)

Chai tea latte!

INT. STARBUCKS -- DAY -- LATER

Jaime is behind the register now; rush hour is past, it's

gotten QUIETER -- but PRETENTIOUS PORSCHE GUY is at the

counter, ARGUING with her.

JAIME:

Sir, we've never had free refills.

Ever. Never, ever.

PORSCHE GUY:

Eddie's down the street has free

refills. Maybe I should take my

business there.

8.

Jaime flicks her eyes from him, to his TABLE in the corner -it's

like a NEST piled with papers, computer, jacket, empty

CUPS -- and she looks back at him.

JAIME:

Please...

(beat, straight face)

Don't make me beg.

Porsche Guy GLOWERS at her.

PORSCHE GUY:

You can't force me to go, you know

that?

He turns and STALKS back to his table and his computer.

JAIME:

(under her breath)

I really, really do.

She turns back -- to see

A GOOD LOOKING GUY, early 30's, standing at the counter.

Wearing surgical scrubs, he's intense in a way halfway between

nerdy and sexy. His name is ERIC MASTERS.

ERIC:

You know, someone should start

charging him rent.

She GRINS at him -- and he grins right back.

ERIC (CONT'D)

I've got half an hour. Did you take

your break yet?

INT. STARBUCKS -- TABLE BY WINDOW -- DAY

Jaime sits with Eric at a table by the huge, arched window

fronting the Starbucks.

ERIC:

Well, there's IPL laser ablation.

That's pretty much state of the art

for tattoo removal. Scorches the

ink right out -

JAIME:

Great. 'Cause if I make her burn a

few layers of her skin off, that'll

definitely improve the relationship.

She puts down her tea, looks out the window, lost in thought.

Eric watches her, a little concerned.

9.

ERIC:

It's crazy that you're feeling bad

about this. When your parents died,

you dropped out of school for her.

You took this -

(gestures at their

surroundings)

-- this "job" -

JAIME:

(cutting him off)

-- that pays well, has flexible hours

and gives us both health insurance.

ERIC:

It's not a career, Jaime. What are

you doing here? This is a waste of

your time and your talents.

Jaime gives a half-smile, but it has an EDGE.

JAIME:

What talents would those be, exactly?

ERIC:

The ones that got you a free four-

year ride at Columbia.

JAIME:

(brushing it off)

That was a long time ago. And a

half-finished degree in Shakespearean

lit is not exactly a marketable skill,

per se.

ERIC:

You could be a professor -

Jaime is starting to get FRUSTRATED -- they've had this

conversation before.

JAIME:

Eric -- I don't even qualify to teach

high school. And I don't have time

to go back to finish my degree, not

yet. Becca needs me -

(off his look)

She's still a kid, ok? Even if her

hormones are trying to trick her

into thinking she's not.

ERIC:

Yeah, well, when I was a teenager I

was studying 24-7 -

10.

JAIME:

(countering, teasing)

You were in college at 15 and a

surgeon by twenty-two. You're not

exactly representative.

ERIC:

What's that supposed to mean?

JAIME:

You're a freak. An overachieving,

utterly focused, completely caffeine-

addicted freak.

ERIC:

Don't mock my dependency. It brought

me in here. To you.

(slugs back more

espresso)

You know, if I adopted you, you'd

have killer health insurance.

JAIME:

That's disturbing on so many levels

I don't even know where to start.

ERIC:

Yeah, you're right. Adoption's out.

(trying to sound casual)

Maybe you two should just move in

with me.

Jaime TENSES, just a little. This is a sore subject.

ERIC (CONT'D)

Becca could have the downstairs

bedroom. I'll even spring for a

cat.

JAIME:

I don't want to fight about this

again -

ERIC:

(serious now)

So don't fight. Say yes.

(frustrated)

Jaime, just let me -

JAIME:

(flaring)

What? Take care of me?

ERIC:

(correcting)

--help. Let me help.

11.

JAIME:

I can take care of myself. And Becca.

I've been doing it a long time.

She starts to get up, taking her tea.

JAIME (CONT'D)

Charity's not a good foundation for

a relationship.

Eric grabs her hand, frustrated, trying to get her to stay.

There's obvious, naked LOVE in his expression -- just a

blinding need to make better what hurts her.

ERIC:

James -

His BEEPER goes off. Getting to his feet, he checks it.

ERIC (CONT'D)

Gotta get back across the street.

Let's just -- are we still on for

dinner?

JAIME:

(doubtfully)

I don't know, I've got a lot to mphhh -

She's totally cut off as he KISSES her, serious, intense.

He pulls back -- Jaime can't help but SMILE up at him -

-- and then she notices that people are STARING at them.

Behind the counter, Maggie is SMIRKING mightily.

JAIME (CONT'D)

(low)

We go dutch. And I choose the

restaurant.

ERIC:

Pick you up tonight.

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