A Nice Cuppa

CROUCHING BARISTA, HIDDEN LACTOSE (continued…)

Exterior - Bukittinggi, West Sumatra

Black and sporty, a bit arrogant. It glides up to the curbside and comes to an abrupt stop. Music blares from the inside even before the door is cracked. A well-dressed foot steps out and the camera pans up for a first look. TROY, 20, a wannabe Teenbeat recruit past his prime, steps out and looks about the world (perhaps giving the world a look at him). His friend DEV,19, Mediterranean, is behind the wheel.

TROY: Alright man…

DEV: (muffled from the music) You gonna bus it back…?

TROY: I’m gonna phone you.

DEV: Phone me then.

TROY: See ya.

They shake a homemade handshake.

DEV: Go be a superstar.

TROY shrugs as if to say, “What else?”. He slams the door and the music jumps a notch, if possible. The car roars off. As TROY walks the camera follows. He glances into anything that might reflect him.

Interior - Dean’s Coffee House

Deep red stains the wood from ceiling to baseboard, giving this coffee house more B&B feel than Ikea-assembled Starbucks. A half bar greets you at the end of a tiny lobby, just before it opens up into a deep house interior. Antique clocks, bound-worn volumes of unreadable classics, and strategically placed fauna mark the decor. Any excuse for a $5 cuppa.

JOHN sits alone in the long room’s back corner, beneath a brown leather trench coat, and a worn but neatly pressed Andre Agassi t-shirt. His side of the table sits on the cool edge of the streaming morning sunlight. It just misses him. Mid to late 40’s, hair slightly thinning and miscombed, JOHN rings of a dime novel dick with the fashion sense of Seinfeld’s Kramer. But here, he’s as caught up in the deepness as anyone could be. He stares at nothing in particular.

Med CU - JOHN
Several conversations seep in from out of frame, via seated couples. It’s impossible to know whether John’s listening.

A: ….Common sense.
B: So, what’s so common about it?
A: (laughs) You apparently don’t know.
B: Says wh…? Packing up…everything, and shipping off to another town, to avoid rental fees that may or may not…jump….isn’t worth the inconvenience..
A: To who?

C: (extended laughter) Cause you’re my woman.
D: (laughs) Get over yourself.
C: What are you talkin…..I’m tryin here.
D: Mmm Hmm.
C: Ya see, we’ve been here for 5 minutes and already I can tell exactly what your problem is.
D: You can.
C: I certainly can……so now that we both know, what d’ya say we get on enjoying each other’s company.

B: I’m not travelling an extra 30 to 40 miles a day-
A: They do.
B: …because some moron thinks…..who does?
A: The other…200 people who live an hour away. Doesn’t seem to be a problem for th-
B: Hey!….tough. Are they going to pay our gas bill? Are they going to pump it too?

E: I love your hair.
F: I love your eyes.

C: (singing) “When a man loves a womaaaan…”
D: What the hell are you doing?
C: I’m singin…serenading your beautiful ass. Don’t tell me you don’t know romance when you hear it.
D: I know a vintage wine too…doesn’t mean I wanna be clubbed with the bottle.
C: Shiteeeet. That’s frigid girl.

A: You’re taking their side then.
B: There’s no side.
A: No, there’s no side but joining your…country club compadres out in Padang to create your own private Jonestown….that’s something approaching levelheaded?
B: I’m a managing partner.
A: So what?
B: So, I have more to consider than the one employee I happen to be dating.
A: Now, I’m not a consideration-
B: Look. My….the personal just stays out of my business. Get it?
A: No.

E: Who’s the man?
F: You know I’m your daddy.

C: So when did it happen?
D: What have you chosen to babble about now?
C: You know. That moment…
D: Mmm hmm…
C: The one that love forgot.
D: Ahh, let’s see….I think it was when I was born and became your sister.

E: What do you love about me Darnelle?
F: Mmmm…
E: Hmmm?
F: Your taste in men.

C: Details. You’ve got to push it out of your mind my lady.
D: Yeah. Tell me again when the kids start calling you Uncle Daddy.

B: Is this about a ring?
A: Unbelievable. No. It’s about a child in the body of a man who, when he doesn’t get his way, suddenly gets tough.
B: I’m not a child.
A: You’re not somethin…

An approaching body eclipses JOHN’s, bringing his thoughts back to Earth.

TROY: Mr. Whit? I’m Troy. How’s it going?

JOHN: Troy. How are you? Sit down.

TROY: Yeah. Thank you.

JOHN: Sit. Coffee for you Troy?

TROY: Ah, why not.

JOHN (looks about): Do you need a waitress? How are you? You made it fine.

TROY: Yeah sure.

JOHN: And you’re here for the money.

TROY is surprised by his forwardness.

TROY: Come on Mr. Whit….it’s all about the experience, right?

JOHN (pleased): Okay then.

With that, JOHN rises suddenly. TROY is convinced he just blew it, but is amazed how quickly. JOHN slaps five hundred dollars on the table.

JOHN: Let’s go.

They leave, John with Pramana on the brain. And not in a slap on a back buddy boy kind of way.

(To be continued….)