Scene 2
Voice: (OS) Gifts...Scene 1...take two!
INT - Blue Moon Hallway
Morning
David saunters down the hall, whistling the Temptations' "Get Ready." Entering the Blue Moon front door, he raises an eyebrow at Agnes.
Agnes: In.
David: (winking) You're a peach, Agnes.
He rounds the reception desk, still jiving...
David:
Get ready, get ready
If you wanna play hide and seek with love
Let me remind you (it's alright)
But the lovin' you're gonna miss
And the time it takes to find you-
At Maddie's door, he stops for a moment, to straighten his tie, before tapping the door with a knuckle. Without waiting for a response, he enters Maddie's office.
David:
-It's outta SIGHT!
Maddie sits at her desk, several files open in front of her. She is taking notes on a yellow legal pad.
Maddie: (without looking up) Nice of you to join us.
David: (grinning) I thought so.
She continues writing. David cocks his head, examining her. She's wearing a dusky rose shirtdress he's seen before, but somehow, today, it looks warmer, more feminine, less "business owner" and more "risque business"...his eyes roam over the open collar of her dress, to the lustrous shine of the pearls encircling her throat—that must be it.
Maddie: (finally looks up) Can I help you?
David: Help me what?
She rolls her eyes and goes back to what she was doing. David makes his way over to the corner of her desk and sits on the yellow pad.
Maddie: David! I was just taking notes.
He looks her up and down, one more time.
David: Yeah, me too.
He leans down to kiss her; at the same time, she pushes her chair back, annoyed. David overbalances and tumbles off the desk into an ignominous heap on the floor.
Maddie: WHAT are you doing?
David: I thought I was saying good morning.
He gets up and dusts himself off.
Maddie: Something wrong with using your mouth?
At this, David smirks. One hand on each arm of her chair, he leans in close, his voice low...
David: No—not a thing. In fact, my mouth was looking forward to following that shiny trail of breadcrumbs you got on, right to the back of your neck.
He looks straight into her eyes, confident he'll see a spark there...of desire, frustration, even anger. If it's warm, he'll take it. Instead, she leans back further, folding her arms, and all he can read is...pity.
Maddie: Oh, David. Not that again.
David: What do you mean, not that again?
Maddie: I mean, I thought we were on the same page here.
David: Yeah, well, yesterday, we were on the same desk here.
Maddie: That? That was just...
He straightens up, his mouth set.
David: Just what?
Maddie: Just a little thank you...
He starts for the door, waving her off.
David: Don't tell me...
Maddie: A little kiss between—
David: DON'T SAY THAT WORD!
Maddie: Pals!
SLAM!
CUT TO:
INT - David's Bedroom
Night
A blue haze fills the room as we focus close-in on David, thrashing in the bed. He sits up, and, without hesitation, grabs a beer bottle off the shelf behind him and sends it flying.
The air resounds with a CRASH as the bottle hits his weight machine. David flops back onto his pillow, one arm over his head, and stares off into the darkness.
CUT TO COMMERCIAL
TO BE CONTINUED