Scene 21

INT. IZARRA’S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM - DAY
Chris tries to make a call on his cell phone, becomes frustrated. A coffee cup stands next to him. Izarra meditates next to a white painting canvas, tries to get his attention.

IZARRA
Ooooohm.

Izarra looks to see if Chris noticed, then tries louder.

IZARRA
Ooooohm!

Chris tries to appear oblivious, but he’s actually intrigued.

IZARRA
Ooooohm!!!

CHRIS
(playfully)
Need something?

IZARRA
No, I’m working.

CHRIS
Oh.

Chris goes back to his phone.

IZARRA
Ooooohm!!!

CHRIS
What kind of work are you doing?

IZARRA
Well, since you’ve already interrupted, I’m painting.

CHRIS
You’re so creative.

IZARRA
Requires great concentration.

CHRIS
Don’t you need paint?

IZARRA
I’m asking for inspiration from the spirit world.

CHRIS
Getting an answer?

IZARRA
No. Every day, I sit down and wait. Sometimes it comes, sometimes it doesn’t. My last work took six months.

CHRIS
Can I see it?

IZARRA
Last time someone didn’t like my work, I was severely depressed. I couldn’t leave the apartment and started banging my head against the wall over and over. Then my roommate moved out. Said she couldn’t take it.

CHRIS
What snapped you out of it?

IZARRA
My mother visited.

CHRIS
Oh nice, before she passed away.

IZARRA
No, years after.

Izarra reveals a canvas painted completely black.

IZARRA
What do you think?

CHRIS
Six months? Want me to be honest?

IZARRA
But nice.

CHRIS
Fascinating.

IZARRA
Everybody sees something different.

CHRIS
I think I see what’s going on in your head.

IZARRA
I asked for inspiration, but I kept getting nothing. Then I realized nothing didn’t mean nothing. It meant black.

CHRIS
Have you gotten other messages?

IZARRA
Not yet. But black is a popular theme in the spirit world. It’s a series of 23 paintings now.
Izarra starts drinking Chris’s coffee.

IZARRA
You’ve been so busy since you moved in 3 weeks ago. Hardly noticed me.

CHRIS
I’ve been working on the restaurant. It’s too much for me.

IZARRA
I’m so proud of you. Kiss me!

CHRIS
No, It’s a mess. I can’t do it.

IZARRA
You could kiss me anyway.

CHRIS
I really appreciate staying here. Lucky thing you have a pull-out couch.

IZARRA
Yeah, lucky thing.

CHRIS
I should be paying half the rent.

Izarra flips the coffee cup over to read the grounds.

IZARRA
Monetary compensation wasn’t what I had in mind.

CHRIS
You’re a great friend, Izarra.

IZARRA
Story of my life.
(reading the grounds)
There she is again, that woman. She even has the same weird hair. You miss Jutta, don’t you?

CHRIS
(dialing cell phone)
No.

IZARRA
Who are you calling?

CHRIS
Jutta. I left several messages. She hasn’t called back.

IZARRA
Heartless.

CHRIS
I shouldn’t have left. She could change.

IZARRA
Yeah, and the world government doesn’t use radiation from computer screens to cause impotence.

Chris pushes himself away from the computer.

IZARRA
Nobody changes. Our course is written in the stars.

CHRIS
If the restaurant was a success, it would impress Jutta and her family.

Chris leaves the room, depressed.