blue hoodie (second draft)

7/27/2019 Blue Hoodie (Second Draft)

1/16

Blue Hoodie (Second Draft)

Written By

Marshall Layne Dungan

2013 Marshall Layne Dungan [email protected]@doctahmushi on twitter


2/16

EXT. DOWNTOWN AUSTIN - MORNING

Blades of light cut across the windshields of traffic indowntown AUSTIN, the veins of the streets moving slow. Afaded green TOYOTA rattles along.

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

Inside, LEO HENRY (29) drives stick, one hand on thesteering wheel, face sighing at the proceedings. He looks tothe passenger seat, where MARY (21) sits blanklypeoplewatching. She catches him staring.

MARYHey you.

Her smile is gentle. She paws at his arm playfully. He snapsback to the road, shuddering with a wave of fidgety energy.

MARYWhy do you keep it so cold in here?

Mary feels, and realizes shes sitting on Leos BLUE HOODIE.She puts on the three-sizes-too-big hoodie with glee. Sheholds the sleeve close to her face, and BREATHES IN ITSSMELL.

MARYWhere are we going this morning? Isthis another "Austin Adventure"?

Leo grips the wheel a little tighter, and forces a smile.

LEOWere going wherever you want to.But I need some coffee first.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING

The pair shuffle forward, holding hands in a five-man deepline. Leo stands a head taller than Mary, like a bigbrother.

MARYWill you get me a skinny hazelnutlatte?

LEOIm not getting you anything.

Mary continues, sublimely undaunted. This is a game theyveplayed before.

(CONTINUED)


3/16

CONTINUED: 2.

MARYPleeease?

LEOYou brought your own money, have atit.

MARYConsider it a preemptivecelebratory drink.

LEOYou shouldnt be optimistic, itsembarrassing.

MARYNot falling for your crankiness.Im excited about today.

LEOAnd I hope that works out for you.Being excited.

Mary scoffs at him.

The line has thankfully gotten close enough for them to hearthe BARISTA (mid-20s, hipster as fuck. Gauges? Yeah. Necktat? Oh sure. Wearing a costume hat? God yes) prattle on tohis fellow CLERK.

BARISTA...See but reality is all about

perception. You can be on the planeof the present but if your mind isperceiving it differently, thenreality is no longer valuableinformation to you.And then you find yourself in aclosed loop of life. Its fuckintragic.

Leo smiles sarcastically at the conversation finally ending.

LEOCan I get a regular coffee and askinny Hazelnut latte?

Leo getting a rise out of her again. After a beat, Marypunches him in the arm, smiling. She takes the coffee.


4/16

3.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - LATER

Leo is parked with an eye on the entrance, and Mary typesaway at her LAPTOP, before coming to a pause to think.

MARY

Alright, Poindexter. Im writing areview of the beer joint from lastnight. Whats a good word todescribe a craft IPA thats toohoppy?

LEOIts Austin, Im not sure there issuch a thing.

MARYPersonally, I dont find extremebitterness attractive.

LEOSo why are you with me?

MARYYour body, obviously.

Mary tosses Sweet-n-Low packets across the table to him.

MARY (CONTD)So you better stick to the zerocalorie sweetener, babe.

Leo grins at her, taking the packets. His moment is done assomething CATCHES HIS EYE.

MARYI was thinking, you need to learnhow to use the internet.

Hes not listening, focused on what he sees.

LEOYeah.

He slides down in his seat and pulls his coffee cup close tohis face. Whatever he can to make himself look NOT HIMSELF.Mary notices.

MARYWhat...are you doing?

(CONTINUED)


5/16

CONTINUED: 4.

LEOJust getting comfortable.

MARY(suspicious)

You dont look remotely

comfortable.

LEO(changing the subject)

Well I am. I know how to use theinternet, I got broadband when Iwas 13.

MARYExactly. Youre competing for theworlds attention with people likeme whove done it from the cradle.And you dont even know how

SnapChat works.

LEOAre you saying you want me to sextyou?

MARYOh god no.

LEOI will. Take out a button or two,let you see the ruffles of my chesthair.

Leo mock touches himself and humorously moans like hesRihanna in a music video. Mary is half-entertained andmore-than-half-embarrassed.

MARYPlease stop.

LEONo, its getting too good to me.

The two of them are laughing, until the moment is undone asLeo hears HEELS on the floor, and sees someone approaching.

He immediately starts gathering his things.

MARYWhats wrong?

(CONTINUED)


6/16

CONTINUED: 5.

LEOI just realized Im incrediblyuncomfortable. You hungry?

MARYSure, but--

Leo grabs her by the arm and they escape out the back.

INT. WHOLE FOODS - DAY

Leo, now relaxed, leans his chair back and drinks coffee ashe watches Mary CHOW DOWN on a taco. Upon making eye contactwith him, Mary is self-conscious, but not enough not toenjoy it.

MARY(trying to finish her bite)

Dont blame me for being a fan of

delicious flavor!

Leo treats emotions like hole cards--he gives bemusedapproval as he sips.

Finally done, she speaks clearly.

MARYYou know what today is, right?

LEOPlease dont.

MARYIts a new day for Mary Coughlin.The start of a new era.

LEO...Striking out?

MARY(Takes off on his line)

--Striking out into theprofessional world, being a youngfemale member of the creativeelite! Having urban adventures,drinking cocktails out of masonjars, making mistakes, gettingmessy!

Leo watches as Mary picks up a head of steam.

(CONTINUED)


7/16

CONTINUED: 6.

MARY(pointing out the window)

Every morning, Ill walk down froman apartment just over...there.

LEO

And then to the coffee shop?

MARYAnd for lunch, a veggie tacowalking distance from my desk asthe newest writer atMoontowerMagazine.com, where I willhammer out columns about the newnormal in our fair city.

Mary takes a breath to soak it all in. Leo slowly setshimself and the chair back down.

LEOMary. Im crazy about you. You knowthis. But you really shouldnt becounting all these chickens beforethey hatch.

MARYThis is just one chicken.

LEO(whisper)

And its a big fucking chicken.

MARYTheyre going to offer me the jobtoday. Look. I have great stats,Ive interned every semester fortwo years, Stacie loved me, Gordonsaid Id be a great addition. Theyeven gave me a mug! I mean, Imexcited, Leo. Why cant you be?

LEOYoure right. You should beexcited...

Leo backs off...

Except he doesnt.

LEOBut think logically. This works outone of two ways: You get the job,and its awesome. The stars align,

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


8/16

CONTINUED: 7.

LEO (contd)the air is sweeter, all that shit.But the feeling is fleeting,because its what you expected allalong. Now lets look at thealternative: You dont get the job.

And it hurts. It hurts a fucktonworse because you spent all daythinking it was yours. Now tell me,how is that a good idea?

Daggers in Marys eyes.

MARYBecause its a good idea to wantthings, Leo.

LEOOh great, now youre pissed.

MARYYou always do this.

LEOWhat, try to give you someperspective?

MARYJust once itd be nice to see yoube supportive.

LEO

Im trying to be realisticallysupportive.

MARY(raising her voice)

What the hell does that even mean?

The other PATRONS are starting to notice.

LEOMeans I dont want you to get yourhopes up too high.

Seriously, Leo? Mary reels. Leo isnt very pleased withhimself either.

His words hang in the air. Then, in the aftermath, somethingovercomes Leo.

(CONTINUED)


9/16

CONTINUED: 8.

LEOYou know what?

Leo intentionally pushes off the table with his foot and heDUMPS OUT OF HIS CHAIR, going ass over teakettle, sendinghis COFFEE FLYING onto the PATRON carrying a tray behind

him.

The tray goes on Leo. Mary goes from shocked to laughter inthe blink of an eye. The patron is PISSED. Mary rushes overto Leos side.

LEOBet you wont see that every day.

INT. LEOS APARTMENT - DAY

Leo and Mary come back to Leos trashy Riverside apartment,where he strips off his coffee-stained shirt and applies a

new one. She watches him from across the room.

MARYYoure an idiot. Do you know that?

LEOIm aware.

Leo comes close to her.

MARYJust let me enjoy this victory,alright?

LEOFor the record, I wouldnt pickanyone but you for that job.

MARYReally?

LEOReally really.

Mary puts her hands on his chest.

MARYYou know what the best part aboutthis new era is? You in it.

Pained smile from Leo.

(CONTINUED)


10/16

CONTINUED: 9.

MARYCome on, the day isnt nearly overyet.

EXT. BOOKSTORE - DAY

Mary walks ahead of Leo, shepherding him to the store.

MARYYou, my man, take yourself entirelytoo seriously. Lets fix that.

She grabs him by the hand and pulls him inside.

INT. BOOKSTORE - DAY

The two look out at the STACKS OF BOOKS in front of them.

MARYAnother part of my new Era: weekly

bookstore jaunts. Pick somethinggood. Ill find you in a bit.

Mary goes off wandering, pulling up the sleeves on thehoodie. Leo shakes his head, begrudgingly enjoying themoment.

INT. BOOKSTORE - LATER

Leo pulls a copy of Farewell to Arms off of the shelf, andcracks it open. After a beat, Mary appears from behind himand snatches the book.

MARYYoure not allowed to readsomething youre actively trying toemulate. Here.

She hands him a copy of Gaimans The Ocean at the End of theLane.

MARYI think youll like it. Its abouta man reliving his life and love.You havent read it, have you?

He takes the book, and slowly shakes his head. She kisseshim.

MARYThese pages. Enjoy them.

BEAUTY SHOTS of Leo reading, then lifting his head up towatch Mary browse from across the store.

(CONTINUED)


11/16

CONTINUED: 10.

He watches her wistfully, until he sees her PHONE GO OFF.

A sudden look of WORRY on his face. He checks his WATCH: Ohno. 2:47PM.

Mary answers the phone with her usual sunshine. A BEAT. Her

expression FALLS. Leo already knows what shes hearing.Shes glass-eyed, nodding along, until the call ends.

Leo approaches slowly, and they make eye contact. Mary losesit and bursts into tears in his arms.

MARYThey said they liked me...

Leo leads her out of the store before she makes a scene.

MARYIts all I wanted.

LEOI know, baby. I know.

EXT. BOOKSTORE - DAY

Mary tries to get a hold of herself. She turns cold.

MARYGo on, say it.

LEOWhat?

MARYWhat you always say. "I told youso."

LEOThats not what I was going to say.

MARYBut its what you mean. Its whatsalways behind your words. "LittleMary doesnt know whats good forher. She shouldnt get her hopestoo high, or try too hard." Is thatall I am to you? Big dreams and ahead full of air?!

LEOKeep your voice down.

(CONTINUED)


12/16

CONTINUED: 11.

MARYFUCK. YOU, LEO! I am yours and I ambroken and you couldnt care less.

Leo tries to restrain himself.

LEO(starting slowly)

Mary, I love you. Youre the lastthing I think about before I sleep.You always are.

MARYYou dont mean that.

LEOListen to me--Every time somethinghurts you, it does me twice. So Itry to minimize things, give them

some perspective, take the stingout.

MARYIts not your job to give me thecold truth.

LEOThats all I have to give you.

MARYBut you cant live like that. Youneed hope, you need faith. Why

cant you just believe in me?

Leo snaps.

LEOYou want to know why? You want toknow the little reason that trumpseverything?

Everything I believe in fails. Evenyou.

His cold intensity is frightening, cutting through thescene. Mary steps away. Leo tries to fix it.

LEOI-Im sorry.

MARYJust leave me alone.


13/16


14/16

CONTINUED: 13.

LEO (contd)better job, and make the haters allregret the day they wrote you off.And as a guy who knows a thing ortwo about defeats, you can takethat to the bank. I do believe in

you. It wont be long until youreon top.

Until then, Mary.

Leo kisses her on the cheek, hops off of the rock, andstarts walking away.

MARY (O.S.)Leo.

Leo stops, and turns his head back to her. Shes smiling asshe wipes tears.

MARYI need a ride home.

EXT. HOUSE, INT. CAR - NIGHT

Mary and Leo pull up to Marys house. They get out of thecar.

LEOHere we are.

Mary is puzzled. The two of them look at the house while a

PAIR OF HEADLIGHTS pull into the drive next to them.

MARYBut...but I dont live here.

Leo gazes into her eyes one last time.

MARY (O.S.)LEO???

Leo turns to see a five-years-older MARY COUGHLIN (25,professional) approach him.

He looks back the other way--the younger Mary is GONE.

He returns his attention to the very real, very angry Marywho stands before him.

MARY (25)What are you doing here?

(CONTINUED)


15/16

CONTINUED: 14.

Leo gathers up a bit of courage and starts his speech fromearlier.

LEO...There are some things I was toochicken to ever tell you, that I

wish I had. Listen--

MARYYou shouldnt be here.

Marys not game for another one of Leos speeches.

LEOI just wanted to talk.

MARYYou had five years to speak up.

LEOI know, but...I was a scared kidback then. And you were thisbeautiful woman with all the talentin the world...I knew it wasntgoing to be long before you left mein your dust.

Mary moves closer, challenging his presence.

MARYSo you thought youd break my heartto slow me down? It worked. In the

span of 24 hours my world fellfucking apart. I lost my big fancyjob...and my partner-in-crime. Sameday. You want to know what I didafter that? I cried. I cried, and Idrank, and I hated you until it allturned into nothing. I lostfriends. I lost time. And then, onemorning, I woke up to a dirtyapartment and a broken girl in themirror and I realized you werenever coming back. Heres the bestpart, though: I realized I wasbetter off. Do you ever think aboutthat? Do you ever even think whatwe could have been if you had evenonce said youre sorry?

FLASH OF SHOTS of her smiling at him on the rock. It neverhappened.

(CONTINUED)


16/16

CONTINUED: 15.

LEOSometimes.

MARYAll I ever wanted was for you tobelieve in me. Turns out I didnt

need you after all.

Mary begins to walk to her door.

LEOYoure right. Im sorry I held youback. Im sorry I was what waswrong with your life.

MARYNo. You dont get to mean that muchto me.

Leo nods in resignation.

LEOGoodbye, Mary.

Leo closes the car door, turns the ignition and, after onelast look out the window at Mary, he throws his hoodie inthe back seat and leaves.

INT. MARYS HOUSE - NIGHT

Mary slings her bag onto the couch and puts her travel cupof coffee into the microwave to reheat. It DINGS finished

and she takes it and sits down to her desk.

She clicks on some music, and takes a gentle sip.

Behind her, TWO ARMS come to rest on her shoulders, andbegin massaging her neck. The comfort brings a kindexpression to her face. A moment later, she touches thehand, and pulls the sleeve of Leos BLUE HOODIE up to herface, breathing it in once more.

blue hoodie (second draft)

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