Arroz Con Leche
(Apartment Scene)
Embedded Files
NOTE TO READER: This is ten pages into a feature script about an aspiring writer in the early 1970s in Cuba under Castro’s regime. She is poor while her new friend is a rich artist favored by the regime.
FADE IN:
INT. DANIEL'S APARTMENT — NIGHT
The apartment is grand.
There are very different decorations on the walls. The artwork is obscure and certainly foreign.
There's a record player at the entrance. There's a table for incense.
One wall is covered with floor to ceiling bookshelves. The couch is large, white, and leather.
MABEL
What the—
DANIEL
Welcome to my sanctuary.
Mabel walks towards the books slowly.
She drags her finger across the spines. We see that there are titles in French, English, German, Spanish, and even Japanese.
MABEL
Who are you?
She is misty eyed, and sounds distracted as she asks.
DANIEL
I'm a friend.
Mabel turns to him, she's out of her trance.
MABEL
Are you going to try anything with me?
Mabel is very serious but Daniel laughs.
DANIEL
I'm sorry to say that you are most certainly not my type my dear.
Mabel stares at him.
MABEL
I—then why did you invite me here? Honestly?
Daniel sits down on the couch and sighs.
DANIEL
Honestly
(beat)
I don't have many friends in this country. I'm from here, I live here, my family lives here, but I don't quite belong here. All my friends are either foreign or ex-patriates, they only visit.
Mabel looks at him, a serious expression still on her face.
MABEL
And? Why me? I'm just a waitress?
DANIEL
Your tattoo, it drew me in.
Mabel moves her watch down and looks at it.
MABEL
Oh.
She licks her finger and wipes at it. It smears. She shows him.
Daniel laughs.
DANIEL
Ah, of course. A misdirect. Well, I liked that you knew English honestly, it's hard to find. And well...
He motions towards her and the books.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
You love books. That's a great sign.
Mabel laughs a little now.
MABEL
Ernest Hemingway.
DANIEL
What?
MABEL
The tattoo, well the scribble I wrote on myself, it's Ernest Hemingway.
Daniel looks at her with narrowed eyes.
DANIEL
Of course you read Ernest Hemingway. What else?
MABEL
Kafka.
DANIEL
How have you read Kafka?
MABEL
My uncle, he's from Miami and writes me letters in English. He tries to bring me books.
DANIEL
That's a hell of a task.
She narrows her eyes.
MABEL
He doesn't do it often.
He throws his hands up in defense.
DANIEL
Whatever you say.
MABEL
Well, how do you get all of these books? How the hell do you even open your door without being arrested?
DANIEL
That... is none of your business.
Mabel has a book in her hands, she reads the back.
Daniel stands and goes to the record player. He plays a record. It's Mozart.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
Sit here. Tell me about yourself.
He motions to a loveseat near the couch he sits on.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
Do you want tea?
MABEL
Tea? No, no I'm good.
Her face is scrunched up and bewildered. It’s like she’s never been offered tea.
DANIEL
Well, tell me, who is Mabel...
MABEL
Reyes.
DANIEL
Yes. Who is Mabel Reyes?
MABEL
Uh, I don't know.
DANIEL
Well, you're a waitress at El Nacional, tell me more.
MABEL
I guess I'm a reader and a waitress.
DANIEL
We've established that one. Give me more. Your passions, your talents, what do you love, what scares you?
MABEL
I—I don't know. What about you?
DANIEL
Mabel that's a horrible answer. I'll go first.
Mabel smiles a little.
MABEL
Okay, fine, go ahead.
She leans forward, hands cupping her chin and cheeks in curiosity.
DANIEL
Well, I'm an artist.
He stands up and walks over to something covered by a large cloth. He picks up the fabric. Behind it are stacks of canvasses.
He picks one up, it's a night sky but the moon is burning.
MABEL
That's beautiful.
She's sincere, looking at him the way a child watches a film repeatedly, but enamored nonetheless, as if they haven't been watching the same scenes, the same dialogue, the same story for several days in a row.
DANIEL
Thank you.
There's something in the way he says this, a tone of discomfort, a moment of vulnerability, and maybe even bashfulness, but it’s hard to tell.
He clears his throat.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
Well anyway, I am a lover of the arts. I love literature and books. I love fashion.
He gestures towards a coat rack and grabs something smoothly. It's a FEATHER BOA: white with gold flecks, fluffy and giant on his small frame. He drapes it on. Mabel stifles a laugh.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
I'm a homosexual.
(pause)
I despise the word and I despise it even more when people call me it. But it's true.
He meanders in his space, moving swiftly with the boa around his neck.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
I would like to say I am fearless but in truth, I'm scared of death, war, capitalism, and maybe of God.
MABEL
Oh—
DANIEL
I think that is to say that I am God fearing.
(pause)
And I must say, I also love this country more than any other one I have been to.
(pause)
It's all possible, you know?
MABEL
What?
Mabel is enraptured, but inquisitive.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
To love God, my country, and be gay.
Mabel doesn't say anything, she just nods.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
Okay, now it's actually your turn.
MABEL
Okay, um. I am a granddaughter.
She breathes in, looks up as if physically searching in the space around her for what to say next.
MABEL (CONT'D)
I am single and I don't think I ever want to be in a relationship, so whatever that is, is my sexuality.
(pause)
I also love books. I love writing and—
DANIEL
Ah! You're a writer!
MABEL
I didn't say that.
DANIEL
Oh, but you did, didn't you? It's all in the way you said it.
MABEL
But I was just introduci—
DANIEL
Do you have anything I can read? This is so exciting Mabel; please tell me I can read your
work
Mabel's mouth is wide open and she's inadvertently twiddling her thumbs.
MABEL (CONT'D)
Um, I guess I have a manuscript and I’m working on—
DANIEL
Mabel! Oh we'll get on perfectly. Us creatives! I must read what you have!
(MORE)
DANIEL (CONT'D)
I have so many friends I'd like you to meet, they obviously don't speak English like you but they manage. Do you speak French?
MABEL
I— uh no, I don't, listen—
DANIEL
No matter, this is perfect. You are my new protégé Mabel, how charming that life brought us together in this way!
Daniel is practically skipping around Mabel, he is moving manically, but it's endearing.
MABEL
Daniel.
He continues to float around, grabbing books and random objects.
DANIEL
I'm making you a goodie bag of sorts, for inspiration.
Mabel is furrowing her brow.
MABEL
Daniel, please.
Her voice sounds different, it breaks a bit. He continues to move around frantically.
MABEL (CONT'D)
DANIEL!
He stops at the urgency and volume of her voice.
DANIEL
What? What's wrong?
He finally approaches her, his face scrunched in confusion.
MABEL
I—I'm sorry. I just don't have experience with this. You are kind but I don't know you and you really don't know me either. You—
She breathes in and out very slowly and closes her eyes while she speaks.
MABEL (CONT'D)
You have no idea what my life is like. I am no writer. I am a caretaker for my sick grandmother and I'm a waitress. And that's it. And that's fine.
Daniel hands her a bag full of books and some random objects. She declines.
MABEL (CONT'D)
Thank you for showing me kindness and for speaking
to me as if I'm... one of you. But this is not for me.
Daniel takes his boa off and drapes it on her shoulders. She tries to shake it off, but it doesn't fall off of her.
DANIEL
We can fix that.
MABEL
No, Daniel. We can't fix anything; this is just who I am.
Mabel grabs her coat and her bag. She gives him a small wave as she opens the door to leave.
DANIEL
Wai—
She closes the door.
FADE OUT.
Spring 2022
Written by Noelia Veras.
Veras studies media & communications and Spanish for international studies at Catholic University (class of 2022). She was the Editor-in-Chief of Catholic U’s newspaper, The Tower, in the 2021-22 academic year. She has been a semi-finalist and quarter finalist in two of Screencraft's distinguished screenwriting competitions.
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