INT. BAR – NIGHT
Cass, 18, enters the bar and takes a seat one stool down from Hank, 27. She empties the contents of her purse onto the bar.
A crumpled cigarette rolls in front of Hank.
He tries to scoot it back to her side of the bar.
She notices him, and she reaches and snatches away the cigarette.
HANK
I wasn’t going to take it.
CASS
Why? You don’t smoke?
HANK
No. I don’t steal.
CASS
How noble of you.
JOSE, the bartender, hands her a pack of matches.
He takes her hand and places the box in her palm.
JOSE
Calm down, Cass.
CASS
I’m calm. I’m calm.
BEAT.
CASS (CONT’D)
This silence is fucking deafening. Would it kill you to plug in a radio or something, Jose. I mean we are paying customers, me and …
Cass motions to Hank.
HANK
Hank.
CASS
Me and Hank. Hank and I. We would like a little atmosphere.
HANK
That would be nice.
Jose turns and raises the plug of a radio.
JOSE
Here’s to atmosphere.
Cass raises her glass, Hank follows. She moves down a seat, next to Hank. She clinks his glass with hers.
CASS
To atmosphere.
INT. HANK’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Cass and Hank lay side by side in Hank’s bed. They’re fully clothed.
CASS
Do you want it tonight or in the morning?
HANK
Do you always talk like that?
CASS
To direct for you? I thought men appreciated direct women.
HANK
Women. You’re barely 18.
CASS
Does it make you feel dirty?
HANK
A little.
CASS
Your very own private issue of Barely Legal. In the flesh.
HANK
Good night.
CASS
Good night.
Hank turns off the light.
INT. HANK’S APARTMENT – MORNING
Hank and Cass lay facing each other in bed. Cass’s eyes stare intently at Hank’s sleeping face.
She reaches out and plugs Hank’s nose and mouth.
He bolts awake.
CASS
Oh good, you’re up. You know you never answered me last night.
HANK
What are you doing?
CASS
Well, I was bored. And lonely. You never answered me last night.
HANK
About what?
CASS
If you wanted it last night or this morning.
HANK
How do you know I want it at all.
CASS
Because men always want something from me.
HANK
Oh really?
CASS
That bull shit about the unapproachable pretty girl. Bull shit.
HANK
What are you talking about?
CASS
Oh you’ve seen the show before.
CASS (CONT’D)
I can never meet boys, because they’re just intimidated by me. It’s so hard. Blah. Blah. Blah.
HANK
You don’t think men are intimidated by you?
CASS
Not as much as they want something from me. They expect me to give them a story to tell. Something to remember years from now when they look back on their youth and their freedom fondly. Their defining moment or something.
She turns to Hank.
CASS (CONT’D)
Am I your defining moment, Hank?
HANK
I hope not.
Cass smiles.
HANK (CONT’D)
But. Probably.
Bethany Lopez 