******
INT. BATHROOM OF CLUB - NIGHT
(CLARISSA, EMILY)
THE GIRLS ARE AT A CLUB SOMEWHERE IN SALT LAKE CITY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE SEE EMILY. SHE IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF CLARISSA. THEY ARE BOTH APPLYING MAKE-UP AND GAZING INTO THE MIRROR. CLARISSA STARTS TO FUMBLE THROUGH HER PURSE.
CLARISSA
Em, do you have any mints?
EMILY
Probably. You know we don't need them. They should be locking "our breath" in pretty little droplets.
CLARISSA
Not if I eat anchovies.
EMILY
What is it with you and anchovies?
CLARISSA
You know I can't resist umami [1.]. Anchovies have it [1.], and that intoxicating taste. Soon as I see them on a menu at a bar I just gotta order them. Plus they're high in omega-3 [2.]. I've had anchovies in almost every country I've been to. I still wonder why the manager at Lone Star doesn't wanna add them to the Caesar Salad. I told her I'll cover the cost.
EMILY
Still don't get why you work there. You don't need the money.
CLARISSA
Maybe I like it. People are great, atmosphere's great, the interactions are art [3.]. Same reason we come here. And I'm never gonna lose touch with ordinary people and live in a silly little bubble like dad.
EMILY
I know. I know. But if you did then I'd be in the bubble with you, right?
CLARISSA
You'll always be in my bubble.
CLARISSA PECKS EMILY ON THE CHEEKS.
CLARISSA
Mess your hair. We don't wanna look like a million bucks . . . or too clean [4.].
EMILY SMILES. SHE RUNS SOME FINGERS THROUGH HER HAIR, AND THEN CLARISSA'S. THEY LEAVE THE BATHROOM HAND IN HAND.
******
1 Hirsch, M. L. (2011). Yum's the word. Psychology Today, 44 (4), 46-47.
2 Henrich, S. (2011). The fat chronicles. [Fish fanatics]. Psychology Today, 44 (4), 48.
3 Sehgal, T. [Artist], & Simonini, R. [Writer] (2011). Immaterial guy. Psychology Today, 44 (4), 30-31.
4 Ryerson, N. (2011). Virtuous reality. Psychology Today, 44 (4), 44. [Now that's 4play. Lol.]
******
INT. NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT
(CLARISSA, EMILY, MATTHEW)
CLARISSA AND EMILY SIT AT A TABLE ON THE HIGH LEVEL IN A SPLIT LEVEL CLUB. THEY HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF THE DANCE FLOOR AND THE BAR. THEY BOTH SIP ON BACARDIS.
[1.]
CLARISSA
More guys than girls. You know that they're short 163 million females in Asia? - that's the entire female population of the States [2.].
EMILY
What? Why?
CLARISSA
Sex selection [2.]. Parents choosing sons over daughters. What it means is that there are a lot of lonely guys in Asia. Fortunately things are a little different here in America; parents want daughters [2.]. And if women outnumber men in the States then that's a fine argument for polygyny, but if you look at the situation from a global perspective then this is an argument just as firm for polyandry. Dad doesn't get that.
EMILY
Your dad's in favor of polygamy?
CLARISSA
Polygyny. But not publicly. Obviously.
EMILY
Oh. Right.
CLARISSA
Guy. Nine o'clock.
EMILY TURNS HER HEAD LEFT. A GUY SITS AT THE BAR. HE TWIRLS HIS FINGER IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE MARTINI. EVERY NOW AND THEN HE LOOKS UP AND SURVEYS THE DANCE FLOOR. HE TAPS HIS KNEE BUT APPEARS TO HAVE MISPLACED THE BEAT, AND EVERY TIME HE GAZES AT THE BAR IT'S AS THOUGH HE'S SEARCHING HARD FOR IT. HE APPEARS NERVOUS.
[3.]
CLARISSA
Try and get his attention. Poor guy. He looks so lost.
EMILY
Sure. But I ain't helping strays all night.
CLARISSA
Just until he's fit enough for us to release him back into the wild.
CLARISSA SMILES. EMILY LAUGHS.
CLARISSA
He's looking. Now. Wink. Wave.
EMILY FOLLOWS SUIT. THEY EACH WINK AND WAVE AT THE GUY. THE GUY GRINS. HE NERVOUSLY APPROACHES THE TWO GIRLS. EVERY STEP HE TAKES APPEARS REHEARSED, PLANNED, QUITE CONTRIVED. HIS GAZE HITS THE GROUND LIKE TORRENTIAL RAIN BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN ITS CUTE SHADOW BRUSHES THE SILKY CHEEKS OF CLARISSA AND EMILY.
MATTHEW
Um . . . is this seat taken? I don't mean to be rude, I was just wondering if . . .
CLARISSA
. . . you could sit down?
EMILY
We winked at you, and waved at you.
MATTHEW
Me?
CLARISSA
Yes. Silly. Come on.
CLARISSA OFFERS MATTHEW HER HAND.
CLARISSA
I'm Clarissa, and this is my friend Emily. You are?
MATTHEW SHAKES CLARISSA'S HAND AND TAKES A SEAT.
MATTHEW
Um . . . Matthew.
CLARISSA
Matthew. I work with a guy named Matt. Common name. What brings you here Matthew?
MATTHEW
Travelling.
EMILY
You're not from around here?
MATTHEW
I'm from Florida. I'm having a look at out of state universities.
CLARISSA
You do have the internet don't you?
MATTHEW
Well, yeah. But I wanted to travel.
EMILY
So you could find bars where you can sit and stir Martinis huh, Bond?
CLARISSA EASILY READS THE SLIGHT DISCOMFORT ON MATTHEW'S FACE. TO HIM REJECTION'S A WIND AND DISTANCE IS A COMFY COAT.
CLARISSA
Ignore her. What she means to say is; She would like you to touch her breasts the way you did that Martini.
EMILY
Clarissa!
MATTHEW LAUGHS. HE LOOKS DOWN AT THE TABLE.
CLARISSA
What do you study?
MATTHEW
Just Arts. Thinking of Philosophy. I like creative writing a lot.
EMILY