scene v
Fade in
Early morning in the gallery. Lots of Natural light coming in through the windows. James is sitting on a bench against the wall. He has a notebook in which he is scribbling notes as he looks from book to book propped open on the bench. He looks up at a few paintings occasionally. The Front door opens and we see Alfred walk in.
Alfred: James? What are you doing?
James: (Startled) Oh, i’m just making notes on some of the paintings, and indexing and stuff like that.
Alfred: (Surprised) Oh……….that’s good.
James: Yeah, I figure we should probably find some way to make room for The Great Wave.
Alfred: Yes, it would look better here than on my house in Queens.
James: Yes, very true.
Alfred: Where did you have it taken after Gale started yelling at you to remove it.
James: Oh, you know……...it’s at my place Uptown. Well, the storage garage.
Alfred: I didn’t know you had one big enough.
James: Well, if I leave the garage door open then it fits.
Alfred: What if someone steals it?
James: Freddie, it’s 2014, no one steals art anymore, and certainly not a copy.
Alfred: But still………..
James: Relax, I was kidding, I rented a space for the night.
Alfred: Alright.
James: Yep.
(Alfred walks to the other side of the gallery through a door, emerging without his coat. He sits next to James and looks at his books, one of them being The Monuments Men)
Alfred: (Picking it up) Hey! This is a movie.
James: No Alfred, that is a book.
Alfred; No, I mean, they made a movie of this.
James: I know, it’s like “Oceans 14” or something.
Alfred: Well, sort of. Are you going to go see it?
James: Maybe.
Alfred: (Nudging annoyingly) You could take Claire.
James: Well….
Alfred: Oh come on, you had a normal date with her, and a great one at that. It’s been a week, call her back.
James: (Contemplating) Alright…...yeah.
Alfred: There we go.
James: A movie though? A movie just seems a little dull, you don’t talk very much, and it seems you are so distracted by the movie that you don’t really realize the moment all that much.
Alfred: What is with your newfound interest in “the moment”
James: More and more I am realizing that it’s best to be in it before it leaves, you know?
Alfred: Well, I suppose.
James: Yeah, I’m not sure I get it myself either.
Alfred: Well, find something enjoyable for you two.
James: Alright I will do that.
(Alfred leaves to go open the gallery for the day.)
fade out
fade in
James in his apartment, sitting on the couch across from his coffee table in which his phone is set. He is staring at it. Hands on the sides of his head.
James: Ok, this is easy. Just call her……...it’s that simple. Just take the phone and dial the numbers on the ticket.
(James picks up the phone, and dials the numbers, it starts to ring, then he hangs up and throws the phone on the couch and burying himself in his hands)
James: Why are you so nervous Jim. It’s just Claire, you know, Claire Borden, she’s nice, how can you mess up, even if you do she won’t care that much.
(James picks up the phone again and dials the phone number, it starts to ring)
Operator Lady Voice: I’m sorry, you must first dial a “1” before using this number.
James: Dang it. (Setting the phone down)
(He gets up and walks around the room, pacing).
James: Just call her, maybe she will just do the talking. Boy wouldn’t that be nice. (mocking Claire)
“Hey, James, thanks for calling wanna go see a movie”
“Oh, yeah, of course….”
“Splendid, i’ll pick you up at 5:30”
“Oh you don’t have to do that”
“You don’t have a car remember…”
“oh yeah…..:
“You are a loser James.”
(James facepalms, his phone rings, it’s Alfred.)
Alfred: Did you call her?
James: Not yet.
Alfred: What is taking you so long?
James: I’m working on it.
Alfred: Well hurry. Oh, and The National Gallery of London wants you to call them.
James: Why?
Alfred: Well they just um…...want their painting back.
James: What?
Alfred: Just call Claire. Then call me and tell me what she said.
James: Ok, fine.
(Alfred hangs up)
James: Ok, I can do this. Well…..maybe I should call London first.
(James dials for The National Gallery of London)
Receptionist: Hello, this is the National Gallery of London.
James: Hello, this is James Carter, of the Museum of Classical art. I believe you wanted me to call you regarding a painting.
Receptionist: Ah yes, let me reconnect you with Sir Penny.
James: Thank you.
(He waits)
Sir Penny: Hello, James Carter.
James: Yes?
Sir Penny: Yes, we would like to buy back the Temeraire. It is of national importance and it belongs in England. It really was not our place to give it away.
James: Well Sir Penny, I am sorry. But I don’t feel so inclined to give it back.
Sir Penny: James, it was a mistake and you will be paid handsomely if you should comply.
James: I’m sorry sir, but I am not giving it away.
Sir Penny: I must insist James, you will give it back one way or another, if I need to get the Queen herself to help me I will.
James: Sir, I don’t plan to give it back.
Sir Penny: We shall see about that sir.
James: You shall see about that sir.
Sir Penny: Goodbye.
James: Buh bye.
(Hangs up)
James: Well, calling Claire can’t be as stupid as that call.
(He dials the number and lets it ring finally)
Claire: Hello?
James: Hello, is this Claire?
Claire: No, this is Tiffany, from the theatre, I see you got my number, I wrote it on your ticket.
(James, confused and panicked, looks at the number and the ticket)
James: Oh…...I……..I um……...well, funny story is. . .
Claire: James, I’m kidding. It’s Claire
James: (relieved and chuckling) Ok good...don’t…...don’t do that.
Claire: Alright I’m sorry, I’m sorry. What do you need.
James: Oh well um……..
Claire: Yes?
James: You aren’t making this easy.
Claire: What do you need?
James: Um…..I was just wondering if you wanted to go out again?
Claire: (Contemplating) Oh, yeah I think I can do that.
James: Alright, cool.
Claire: What do you have in mind?
James: Oh, you know, just um……..
Claire: Yeah…..
James: I was just thinking we could, ya know um……...just…..yeah.
Claire: (Confused) What was that?
James: Um…...just um, lets go um……….
Claire: Ok, you’re struggling, how about on Friday we go get coffee at the Bluebird and then we’ll go to central park.
James: Um…..yeah that sounds good.
Claire: Lets say about 5:30-ish, i’ll meet you at the Bluebird.
James: Alright. (Happy now) Cool!
Claire: See you then.
(James, thinking Claire has hung up, throws the phone, without hanging up, onto the couch
and breaks into song, then he hears Claire laughing audibly…..)
Claire: Goodbye James, (she hangs up)
(James, wildy embarrassed, hangs up and calls The National Gallery of London, thinking it is Alfred.)
James: So um…..the answer is YES!
Receptionist: (excited) You have changed your mind?!
James: (looks at number on the phone) What, no! No, i’m keeping the painting, sorry for the call.
(hangs up and calls Alfred).
James: She said Yes!
fade out
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