EXT. CAFE - AFTERNOON
Ella is enjoying a BEVERAGE on the patio of an outdoor Cafe. She’s enjoying something on her phone. Possibly taking selfies.
She notices a STREET PERFORMANCE going on with view of her. She snaps a few photos and takes some video.
Her check is dropped off at the table. She reaches down to grab her purse as the waitress walks away and discovers that her PURSE is missing.
She immediately goes into a panic.
See walks out of the patio toward the middle of the Promenade street and looks around. All she sees is people. Full of skepisism, everyone can be a suspect.
She’s greeted by the voice of...
MICHAEL SAINT. Hansom. Mid to early 20’s.
MICHAEL SAINT
Is everything ok?
ELLA
No someone stole my purse.
She looks upon Michael’s face. He’s very hansom, her eyes reveal she thinks so too.
MICHAEL SAINT
Devastating but not surprising. Do you mind if I help you look for it?
ELLA
(skeptical)
I don’t know?
MICHAEL SAINT
Don’t worry I’m harmless.
(off her look)
Look if it makes you feel any safer I’ll let you carry my gun.
She’s taken back.
Michael flashes his DSLR CAMERA.
MICHAEL SAINT (CONT’D)
Its not an actual gun but it does shoot.
He flashes her a smile and begins to put the CAMERA STRAPS around her neck. He’s close, she flusters a bit thanks to his hansom face.
ELLA
Thanks but...
MICHAEL SAINT
Come on. Sometimes it takes a lowlife to find a lowlife.
Ella lead by Michael’s first step finds herself walking with him.
MICHAEL SAINT (CONT’D)
So how long have you been in LA?
ELLA
How’d you know I’m not from here?
MICHAEL SAINT
The same way you can pick out the true art lovers at an art gallery. By the way they look at everything around them as if they’re seeing it for the first time. To you all the LA air is still fresh, the city still holds some sort of Imperial Romanticism and the people are all walking art exhibitions.
ELLA
Yeah this place is amazing.
MICHAEL SAINT
So it seems at first.
ELLA
What’s that mean?
MICHAEL SAINT
I bet its always been your dream to live here right?
ELLA
Yeah.
MICHAEL SAINT
Well there’s a reason we dream with our eyes closed.
ELLA
(defensive)
And what’s that reason?
MICHAEL SAINT
Because when our eyes are open they reveal the true reality of what we’re really seeing.
ELLA
I guess it all depends on a person’s perspective. Because you can still go to sleep to nightmares and wake up to the joys of reality.
MICHAEL SAINT
I guess you could look at it that way.
She stop. Questioning her trust of Michael.
ELLA
Why do you call yourself a lowlife? And why exactly is it that you want to help me?
MICHAEL SAINT
I know how it feels to have what’s valuable stole. It also happened to me when I first arrived to Hollywood.
ELLA
How does that make you a lowlife?
MICHAEL SAINT
Because I knew the person and let it happen.
ELLA
Why.
MICHAEL SAINT
It was me.
ELLA
I don’t understand?
MICHAEL SAINT
I had a bit of a habit
(putting finger on his nostril and snorting)
If you know what I mean. My first month here.
She gives him a look.
MICHAEL SAINT (CONT’D)
I know. You’re wondering why I told you that? Well. You know the best way to earn someones trust?
He looks her in her eyes.
MICHAEL SAINT (CONT’D)
By making yourself vulnerable.
ELLA (V.O.)
I don’t know if it was vulnerability but he definitely made himself interesting.
MICHAEL SAINT
Follow me.
The two begin to walk. Michael makes his way to a MUSICIAN who is performing and places a few dollars in her TIP CAN.
MICHAEL SAINT (CONT’D)
And the second. Generosity.
Eyes on MUSICIAN.
MICHAEL SAINT (CONT’D)
That’s Tracy. She’s from a small town just outside of Nashville. They used to call her to Christina Aguilara of (small town) the tiny girl with the big voice. On his death bed her Grandfather gave her a check for Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand for her to use to go to school and pursue the career her parents always wanted her to do. Every single day she’s here sings ballads out of guilt for the fact that she used that money to move to Hollywood and pursue her dreams of becoming a singer.
ELLA
Who are you?
MICHAEL SAINT
Sorry. Michael White... Well my sir name is Saint. But you can just see the irony of a kid growing up in the Catholic School system with a first name Michael and a last Name Saint?
ELLA
St. Michael.
MICHAEL SAINT
St. Michael. So I changed it to White.
ELLA
Makes sense. I guess Hollywood would be the place where there’s less irony for a coke head named white.
MICHAEL SAINT
Former coke head. And surprisingly enough, yeah.
The two begin to walk again.
MICHAEL
Anyway. I was always told Hollywood is the city of invention. The place you can be who ever or whomever you want to be. I guess I just chose to be the wrong person. Anyway, to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to?
ELLA
I’m Ella.
MICHAEL SAINT
And which hollywood dream are you here pursuing? Acting or modeling?
ELLA
That obvious?
Off his look.
ELLA (CONT’D)
Acting.
MICHAEL SAINT
Well if you don’t mind me saying. You definitely have the look. Just make sure you keep your focus, I’ve seen a lot of Actresses come and go because they lost there focus.
ELLA
Not me. My whole life this is all I’ve ever wanted.
MICHAEL SAINT
Good.
He shoots her a smile. There eyes meet, there’s definitely an attraction there.
MICHAEL SAINT (CONT’D)
So where’s the last place you saw your purse?
ELLA
The restaurant right outside of where I was standing when you saw me.
MICHAEL SAINT
Did you ask anyone in the restaurant if they saw the purse?
ELLA
No. I just panicked when I noticed it was gone.
MICHAEL SAINT
We should go back there. Maybe someone saw something or maybe even better someone returned it.
EXT. CAFE - MOMENTS LATER
Ella’s talking to a waitress describing the events that happened to her. She points to where she was sitting and notices her PURSE on the floor under her table.
TO MICHAEL..
ELLA
Its there.
She rushes over to it. Michael follows.
She picks up the purse and sorts through it. She finds her OSCAR and breaths a sign of relief.
MICHAEL SAINT
Is everything there?
ELLA
No my wallets missing but at least they didn’t take Oscar.
MICHAEL SAINT
Sorry to hear about your wallet.
ELLA
Its ok, it can be replaced but he can’t.
MICHAEL SAINT
Oh I bet there’s a least twenty shops along Hollywood blvd that beg to differ.
(off her look)
I get it. Sentimental value.
ELLA
...Yeah... Well thank you for helping me look for my purse.
MICHAEL SAINT
So that’s it? I help you find your Pal and now you ditch me? Just toss me to the side.
ELLA
No I just figured you fulfilled your duty to me and now you’re ready to rescue the next maiden in distress.
MICHAEL SAINT
Its damsel and no. Fortunate for you there’s not a Phone booth in sight and I left my cape at the dry cleaners which means I’m officially off duty.
Ella smiles and just stares upon him. This is the first time he looks nervous.
MICHAEL SAINT (CONT’D)
Well. Maybe I should be going.
He shoots her a smile and turns. She quickly retorts.
ELLA
Hey so I’ve been meaning to ask. What’s with the camera?
He turns back to face her.
MICHAEL SAINT
Got a riddle for you. I take your image without you even noticing. I capture your moments without your permission. I develop the parts of you that I find interesting and sell your likeness to the highest bidder. What am I?
Ella stops and looks at Michael. She thinks for a second then eyes the CAMERA around her neck.
ELLA
...A photographer.
Michael gives no yes or no answer just shoots her a look.
MICHAEL SAINT
Hey have you had a chance to witness Santa Monica’s golden hour?
ELLA
No I haven’t.
MICHAEL SAINT
Well I know the perfect spot to be at to take in all its glory.
She gives him a smile.
written by Darion Taylor
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