Scene One:
[ Outside TA Kutz. . . ]
[ On a frigid & cloudy day, Kira steps
into the entrance corridor area. After
getting some well-needed breath's
of fresh air, her mind has cleared &
readied for the final hours of her shift. ]
[ A package has been placed up against
the wall. Bending down, she glimpses
the lover's caption. Immediately noting
who it came from. ]
"Thinking of you. Have something
special planned for this weekend.
Love always, Erme."
[ Rolling her eyes, she grabs it & goes
to locate her co-worker, Yazmyn. ]
[ Finding her in the break room, she
sets it down on the table in front
of her. ]
YAZ: Another surprise?
KIRA: Yes. Doesn't he ever give it
a rest? It's getting tired.
YAZ: Hey, there's nothing wrong
with random acts of kindness.
Just because Scott isn't all that
romantic. I happen to like that
my man is so. . .expressive.
KIRA: There's a difference in showing
you care and being obsessed.
[ Yazmyn shuffles through the multi-
colored stuffing. Feeling a smooth fabric
run through her fingers, she shrieks at
the reveal.
Hiding the contents, fast. ]
KIRA: What was that?
YAZ: It's lingerie.
Scene Two:
[ Break Room, TA Care. ]
[ Jenni, Sunshine, Tiesun & Rediki
are sitting at a table talking. ]
SUNSHINE: Talk about the longest
hour of our lives!
JENNI: Oh no! That must have
given you quite a scare.
SUNSHINE: Yes, thankfully we
found her a couple of streets away.
TIESUN: Poor thing. She must of
got confused with the look of the
houses in your neighborhood.
SUNSHINE: Yeah, maybe. They do
look pretty similar around us.
REDIKI: My aunt use to wonder off
like that too. I’d suggest taking her to
a doctor just to make sure it’s not
anything more serious.
SUNSHINE: Thanks, I’ll talk to Jesz
about it but I know Pearl would
make it difficult for anyone who
tries to help.
[ Later, Jenni & Sunshine are inside
the manager's office. ]
JENNI: So, is everything set for me
to take Monday to Wednesday off
next week?
SUNSHINE: Yes. Jai said it was
no problem. With the baby coming
next month, he’s appreciative of the
extra hours.
JENNI: Great! At least one thing
is working out for me today.
[ Ending it there, aiming to keep
her reasoning a secret. ]
Scene Three:
[ Inside The Aisles. ]
[ Ermensau is planted down on a
stool stocking the international
aisle. His lead Brian is standing
close. ]
BRIAN: You can't just sweet talk
your way into her private areas.
That's not how it works.
ERME: Private areas? Please!
We've been in a committed relation-
ship for the last eight months. We
make out, touch some. But I need
more.
It's torture at this point.
BRIAN: Yeah, well it's not just
about you.
And Yazmyn was raised differently
She's a strict Christian. Which means
she's waiting for marriage.
ERME: Listen, I love Yaz. And she
loves me. There's no reason for us
to wait now that we know we're
going to be together.
BRIAN: That's fine but that doesn't
mean her morals have changed any.
Take it from someone who's older
and been around. You don't wanna
push this.
ERME: First of all, I'm almost 20.
I'm not a child anymore. And
second, she'll change her mind.
After this weekend.
BRIAN: This most definitely
won't show you're maturing
but what do I know?
If you were as quick at making
these elaborate plans as you were
at your job, we'd both be better
off.
[ Brian heads for his back office.
Erme stands up, thinking to
his self. ]
ERME: This has to work!
Scene Four:
[ Inside Jenni's Envision. ]
[ Jenni accepts a call from her hus-
band through the car system. ]
JENNI: Hey, how did The Lounge
do today?
CHAIS: Not good. We had another
cancelation. And hardly any new
bookings for the week.
We've tried everything. It's not
looking good right now.
JENNI: Well, don't give up.
[ She pulls into a driveway where
a young woman is outside waiting
for her. ]
JENNI: I'll be home in a little while.
CHAIS: Okay. I'm gonna start on
dinner.
[ After they hang up, Jenni is now
seated opposite the woman in her
somewhat sterile office. ]
BELLA THORNE: I know you've
been going through a lot this year.
With failed IVF and trying to get
pregnant.
And your sister's due date is coming
up soon. That must be difficult for
you and Chais.
JENNI: Yes, it is. And he has enough
to worry about with his business woes.
That's why I haven't brought any
of this up.
BELLA THORNE: I understand.
So, let's get into some of the basics
you'll need to know about the
process of adopting from overseas.
Scene Five:
[ Early Next Morning, Mirror Lake. ]
"Why did you stop out here?"
[ Yazmyn questions Erme as she gets
out of his truck, placing her covered
and sheltered feet into the sand. ]
YAZ: I thought we were going to
the Cider Festival.
ERME: It's not until later. And I
wanted some time alone before
we're surrounded by strangers.
Come on.
[ He takes her hand, leading her down
the path toward a hidden grassy area
with tall trees. ]
[ A fallen tree provides them with the
perfect spot to sit down. ]
ERME: Are you wearing my gift?
[ His hand moves toward her shorts
but she blocks his touch. ]
YAZ: I'm not. And we need to talk.
You shouldn't be giving me things
like that. Especially at work.
It's not appropriate!
[ She stands up, facing him. ]
ERME: I'm sorry. I thought you
were my girlfriend. And neither of
my exes behaved in this way.
What is the big deal? Don't you
love me?
[ Yazmyn quietly sits back down. ]
YAZ: I do love you.
[ Erme smiles. Sliding his hands under
her hips, he lifts Yazmyn up until
she is sitting down on his lap.
Facing, they begin to softly kiss. ]
[ Soon Erme is overwhelmed with desire
for her. Letting it take over, he continues
to get more and more forceful with his
hands and oral stimulus.
To the point that he can't focus on
anything else. ]
"Okay, that's enough!"
"Erme!"
"Stop!"
Scene Six:
[ Afternoon, Kaori & Jai's. ]
[ Jenni and her sister are sitting
down at the kitchen table. ]
JENNI: Hey, how are you feeling?
[ She sits down across from her. ]
KAORI: I'm tired but alright.
JENNI: Just a few more weeks
and she'll be here.
KAORI: With work and our varied
schedules, I can tell Jai is starting
to get pretty nervous.
JENNI: You'll be fine. Especially
since mom and dad will be here
to help out.
KAORI: I know. They are so
excited to come to the states.
Finally.
So, what's happening with IVF?
JENNI: After the last one didn't
work, we decided to take a break.
Chais has a lot going on with
The Lounge right now. Business
is slow.
KAORI: I'm sorry, sis.
JENNI: It's fine. I'm sure he'll
figure it out eventually.
KAORI: Maybe he should talk
with Mark about it. Get some
advice.
JENNI: I mean, yeah. That would
be a great suggestion.
Good luck getting him to do
it though.
Final Scene:
[ Back At Mirror Lake. ]
"Are you sure you're okay?"
[ Yaz stays quiet, sitting away from
Erme as he stands. ]
ERME: I'm so sorry. I don't know
what came over me.
Please say something.
[ She gets up, keeping her distance. ]
YAZ: I think we should break up.
ERME: Come on, babe. Please don't
do this.
YAZ: I care about you deeply but
it's clear that we want different
things.
I can't give you what you need.
And you're not able to wait.
There are other woman out there
who will give into your desires.
ERME: I don't want other woman.
I want you.
[ Yaz faces him with tears in her
eyes. ]
YAZ: Well, I don't want you.
[ She chokes out. ]
Not anymore.
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