FINN AND LEE
(movie short)
by
Esther Elizabeth Buck
FADE IN:
INT. LEE'S APARTMENT / CREDITS HERE
LEE listens to music as the television is on mute and she is getting dressed. Various items are shown in her apartment indicating she is wasteful. The sun is out but she turns on a lamp by the front door, also neglecting to turn off the music or television before leaving the apartment. She carries a large bag and dresses in a sundress with heavy boots [like Doc Martens] pulling a vintage gas mask from a shelf before closing the door behind her.
INT. RESTAURANT WITH APOCALYPSE THEME
LEE opens the door and stands carrying large bag and wearing gas mask.
LEE
(walks toward a table at which FINN sits)
FINN! I miss you so much!
FINN
(stands and hugs LEE)
I'm here now. What is this?
LEE
(removes gas mask)
Crazy, right? World War II gas mask.
FINN
Where’d you get it?
LEE
Army Navy store. Six bucks.
SERVER
Can I get you something to drink?
LEE
Did you look at the menu?
FINN
(nods)
LEE
I want the Taffy Lewis Worm.
FINN
Is that the one with worms?
LEE
(nods)
SERVER
Two Taffy-
FINN
Oh no! I'm not drinking a worm. I'll have the Flaming Furiosa.
SERVER
Got it.
LEE
Can we have water too?
FINN drinks the water throughout the scene while LEE's water remains untouched.
SERVER
Of course.
(leaves table)
LEE
You don’t have to eat the worms.
FINN
If I’m not eating them, I don’t need them in my glass.
LEE
(shrugs)
So, how are you?
FINN
Six hour drive in the jeep. I'm happy.
LEE
You're seeing me. Even happier, yeah?
FINN
(laughs)
LEE
How's the East Coast treating you?
FINN
Should've moved into the city. Burbs of Boston is -
LEE
Should've moved down here.
FINN
I'm actually looking for a new place.
LEE
In Philly?
FINN
I don't know. I'm restless.
LEE
I wanna move too. I just got a bill from my landlord to pay excessive electric charges.
FINN
Is that part of your lease?
LEE
Yeah, anything over a certain threshold. It's higher in the summertime, but I feel like I get charged a couple times a year.
FINN
That doesn't sound legal.
LEE
You should buy a house here and rent me a room.
SERVER
(returns with drinks)
Are you ready to order?
LEE
Are you ready?
FINN
Yeah, I'll have the steak. Rare.
SERVER
It comes raw.
FINN
Raw?
SERVER
It's the theme. Apocalypse you hunt, kill, cook your own.
FINN
I have to hunt in a restaurant?
SERVER
No hunting. Just cooking. It comes sliced thin. You put it on a hot stone and it chars the meat.
FINN
Food and fire.
SERVER
It's all you need.
LEE
I want the fish.
SERVER
It's Atlantic Red Snapper today.
LEE
That's fine.
SERVER
(lights the Flaming Furiosa with a lighter, takes menus and leaves table)
FINN
Holy smokes!
LEE
Flaming-
FINN
I get it.
(raises glass and blows flame out)
Happy Birthday bud.
LEE
(raises glass and clinks FINN's glass)
Mongolia.
FINN
Mongolia.
LEE takes sip of drink and then reaches into her bag pulling out a box of individually wrapped plastic straws. FINN declines when offered a straw. LEE unwraps her straw and places in her water. LEE reaches into her bag and pulls a paper coaster from her bag and places it under her water.
FINN
What're you doing?
LEE
They don't give out straws anymore.
FINN
Because you don't need a straw.
LEE
What if the glass is dirty?
FINN
You've had dirtier things in your mouth.
LEE
Funny.
FINN
You just drank from that glass.
LEE
(shrugs)
I like a straw.
FINN
I got your birthday gift.
(presents a plant)
LEE
No wrapping paper.
FINN
Paper’s just more trash.
LEE
But I like unwrapping things.
FINN
(takes plant back and ties cloth napkin around it)
Wrapped.
LEE
(takes napkin off the plant and throws it at FINN)
I wonder how long until I kill it.
FINN
Why would you kill my gift?
LEE
I can't take care of plants.
FINN
Your apartment's full of plants.
LEE
Plastic. Well, mostly plastic. The real ones die and I buy new ones.
FINN
Your plants die and you buy new ones?
LEE
Not a lot. The plastic ones are better for me. I even tried to put plastic in the dirt with the real ones. They die too.
FINN
The plastic dies.
LEE
No. The real ones I put with the plastic. So I have all these dead leaves in the middle. It's gross.
FINN
You probably shouldn't put the plastic with the-
LEE
Yeah yeah.
FINN
Why do you even have plants?
LEE
I like the way they look.
FINN
The plants probably would like some sunlight and water.
LEE
(laughs)
Shut up. I do my best.
FINN
Like this.
(pours some water from his glass into the flowerpot)
LEE
I water them.
FINN
Maybe you should like something easier to care for. Like rocks?
SERVER
(places whole grilled fish down in front of LEE and a wooden plank in front of FINN)
I'll bring yours right out.
(leaves table)
FINN
You gonna eat all that?
LEE
Yeah.
FINN
Face and eyeballs?
LEE
Ew, no.
FINN
Just leave it on the plate like the worms?
LEE
Nobody eats the face and eyes.
FINN
Some people do.
LEE
I don’t.
FINN
Why didn't you get a piece of fish?
LEE
(smirks)
I like the way this looks too.
SERVER
(using tongs, places a hot stone on the plank of wood, and a plate of raw steak and wooden skewers)
Skewer the meat and place it on the hot rock.
FINN
Got it.
LEE
You gonna eat all that?
FINN
(smirks while skewering meat)
Every bit.
FINN reuses the same skewer while eating.
LEE
(motions toward window)
Look, it's snowing already.
(reaches in large bag to retrieve her car key and beeps it to start the engine.)
FINN
You brought your car? You live like three blocks away.
LEE
But I knew it was gonna snow.
FINN
But, you couldn't tell me it was gonna-
LEE
They forecasted it.
FINN
It was supposed to be 75 degrees.
LEE
It was. Now it’s snowing.
FINN
It felt like summer.
LEE
Well, now you got winter. I saw this funny comic with mother nature and father time. Father time says, 'you can't do all four seasons in one week.' Mother nature says, 'hold my beer.'
FINN
That’s not really funny.
LEE
Oh, lighten up.
FINN
I didn't prepare for snow.
LEE
Is the top on your jeep?
FINN
Yeah, I put the soft top on before I left just in case it rained.
LEE
Snow's just frozen rain.
FINN
You don't think it's weird that the temperature dropped enough to snow today.
LEE
Sometimes the weather's weird.
FINN
Forty degrees weird?
LEE
The seven day forecast looked like lottery numbers. 75, 30, 50, 45, and then up to 70 again.
FINN
I just brought shorts and a thin hoodie.
LEE
You should have checked the week. I’ve some sweats that'll fit you. And we can just stay home on the cold days.
FINN
I gotta tell my sister about this. She's always asking, 'what happened to global warming?'
LEE
I'm curious myself.
FINN
You know erratic changes in the weather is part of climate change.
LEE
Kinda fitting we're in an apocalypse theme restaurant.
FINN
Yeah, you with a plastic straw and plastic plants.
LEE
I told you-
FINN
I know. I'm sorry.
LEE
I'm gonna go to the restroom.
FINN
I'll get the check.
LEE
You can get another drink or dessert.
FINN
I brought cupcakes from that bakery you like.
LEE
(walking to restroom with her bag)
Okay.
FINN
(motions toward the server for the check)
SERVER
Coffee or dessert?
FINN
No, we're good.
SERVER
(drops check)
FINN
(hands server payment)
LEE
(returns dressed in winter clothes including hat and scarf, carrying a big coat.)
You ready to go? Where's your car?
FINN
I parked in the casino lot.
LEE
I'll drive you to your car.
FINN
I can walk.
LEE
It’s freezing.
FINN
Okay, whatever.
LEE picks up the glass of water and leaves the paper coaster on the table, walking out of the restaurant with the glass of water in her hand.
FINN
You're took the glass.
LEE
I'm thirsty.
FINN
You could've drank it inside.
LEE
But I was hot in there with all these layers.
FINN
But that's not a to-go cup.
LEE
They have more. Who cares?
FINN
I'm sure they care.
LEE
(drinks a small amount of water and then tosses the glass with straw into the trashcan)
FINN
Lee!
LEE
(uses key fob to unlock her car doors)
What?
FINN
That's not disposable.
LEE
Well, I disposed of it. I thought you said I shouldn't take it.
FINN
You shouldn't throw it away either. You could use it at home.
LEE
I hate washing dishes. C'mon, get in my car.
FINN
My car's right there.
LEE
Stop being stubborn. You're gonna freeze.
FINN
(opens the passenger door)
How did it heat up so fast?
LEE
I beeped it when I saw it was snowing.
FINN
It's been running this whole time?
LEE
Just get in.
INT. LEE'S CAR
LEE
(makes turn away from the parking lot pointed out by FINN)
FINN
My car's back there.
LEE
I know but it's a one way street. I gotta go around.
FINN
I really could have walked.
LEE
I'm not gonna have you freeze to death when you came to celebrate my birthday.
FINN
You can just drive to your apartment.
LEE
I want the cupcakes you brought.
FINN
Well, I'll get them and just leave my car in the lot. I don't have to run my engine too
LEE
What if they ticket or tow your car?
FINN
Overnight?
LEE
It's Philly.
FINN
I'll just walk over in the morning.
LEE
You're not gonna walk. I'll drive you in the morning. But you're getting my cupcakes tonight.
FINN
If you're gonna start your car in the morning, I'll just drive tonight.
LEE pulls into parking lot, FINN gets out her car, and gets in his.
LEE
(rolls window down and calls out)
Sit in here while you warm your car!
FINN
I'm okay. I'll meet you at your place.
LEE
(shrugs and rolls up the window)
FADE OUT.
Before credits roll, statistics about impact of climate change as a result of plastics use and wasteful consumption of resources as well as erratic weather.
(movie short)
by
Esther Elizabeth Buck
FADE IN:
INT. LEE'S APARTMENT / CREDITS HERE
LEE listens to music as the television is on mute and she is getting dressed. Various items are shown in her apartment indicating she is wasteful. The sun is out but she turns on a lamp by the front door, also neglecting to turn off the music or television before leaving the apartment. She carries a large bag and dresses in a sundress with heavy boots [like Doc Martens] pulling a vintage gas mask from a shelf before closing the door behind her.
INT. RESTAURANT WITH APOCALYPSE THEME
LEE opens the door and stands carrying large bag and wearing gas mask.
LEE
(walks toward a table at which FINN sits)
FINN! I miss you so much!
FINN
(stands and hugs LEE)
I'm here now. What is this?
LEE
(removes gas mask)
Crazy, right? World War II gas mask.
FINN
Where’d you get it?
LEE
Army Navy store. Six bucks.
SERVER
Can I get you something to drink?
LEE
Did you look at the menu?
FINN
(nods)
LEE
I want the Taffy Lewis Worm.
FINN
Is that the one with worms?
LEE
(nods)
SERVER
Two Taffy-
FINN
Oh no! I'm not drinking a worm. I'll have the Flaming Furiosa.
SERVER
Got it.
LEE
Can we have water too?
FINN drinks the water throughout the scene while LEE's water remains untouched.
SERVER
Of course.
(leaves table)
LEE
You don’t have to eat the worms.
FINN
If I’m not eating them, I don’t need them in my glass.
LEE
(shrugs)
So, how are you?
FINN
Six hour drive in the jeep. I'm happy.
LEE
You're seeing me. Even happier, yeah?
FINN
(laughs)
LEE
How's the East Coast treating you?
FINN
Should've moved into the city. Burbs of Boston is -
LEE
Should've moved down here.
FINN
I'm actually looking for a new place.
LEE
In Philly?
FINN
I don't know. I'm restless.
LEE
I wanna move too. I just got a bill from my landlord to pay excessive electric charges.
FINN
Is that part of your lease?
LEE
Yeah, anything over a certain threshold. It's higher in the summertime, but I feel like I get charged a couple times a year.
FINN
That doesn't sound legal.
LEE
You should buy a house here and rent me a room.
SERVER
(returns with drinks)
Are you ready to order?
LEE
Are you ready?
FINN
Yeah, I'll have the steak. Rare.
SERVER
It comes raw.
FINN
Raw?
SERVER
It's the theme. Apocalypse you hunt, kill, cook your own.
FINN
I have to hunt in a restaurant?
SERVER
No hunting. Just cooking. It comes sliced thin. You put it on a hot stone and it chars the meat.
FINN
Food and fire.
SERVER
It's all you need.
LEE
I want the fish.
SERVER
It's Atlantic Red Snapper today.
LEE
That's fine.
SERVER
(lights the Flaming Furiosa with a lighter, takes menus and leaves table)
FINN
Holy smokes!
LEE
Flaming-
FINN
I get it.
(raises glass and blows flame out)
Happy Birthday bud.
LEE
(raises glass and clinks FINN's glass)
Mongolia.
FINN
Mongolia.
LEE takes sip of drink and then reaches into her bag pulling out a box of individually wrapped plastic straws. FINN declines when offered a straw. LEE unwraps her straw and places in her water. LEE reaches into her bag and pulls a paper coaster from her bag and places it under her water.
FINN
What're you doing?
LEE
They don't give out straws anymore.
FINN
Because you don't need a straw.
LEE
What if the glass is dirty?
FINN
You've had dirtier things in your mouth.
LEE
Funny.
FINN
You just drank from that glass.
LEE
(shrugs)
I like a straw.
FINN
I got your birthday gift.
(presents a plant)
LEE
No wrapping paper.
FINN
Paper’s just more trash.
LEE
But I like unwrapping things.
FINN
(takes plant back and ties cloth napkin around it)
Wrapped.
LEE
(takes napkin off the plant and throws it at FINN)
I wonder how long until I kill it.
FINN
Why would you kill my gift?
LEE
I can't take care of plants.
FINN
Your apartment's full of plants.
LEE
Plastic. Well, mostly plastic. The real ones die and I buy new ones.
FINN
Your plants die and you buy new ones?
LEE
Not a lot. The plastic ones are better for me. I even tried to put plastic in the dirt with the real ones. They die too.
FINN
The plastic dies.
LEE
No. The real ones I put with the plastic. So I have all these dead leaves in the middle. It's gross.
FINN
You probably shouldn't put the plastic with the-
LEE
Yeah yeah.
FINN
Why do you even have plants?
LEE
I like the way they look.
FINN
The plants probably would like some sunlight and water.
LEE
(laughs)
Shut up. I do my best.
FINN
Like this.
(pours some water from his glass into the flowerpot)
LEE
I water them.
FINN
Maybe you should like something easier to care for. Like rocks?
SERVER
(places whole grilled fish down in front of LEE and a wooden plank in front of FINN)
I'll bring yours right out.
(leaves table)
FINN
You gonna eat all that?
LEE
Yeah.
FINN
Face and eyeballs?
LEE
Ew, no.
FINN
Just leave it on the plate like the worms?
LEE
Nobody eats the face and eyes.
FINN
Some people do.
LEE
I don’t.
FINN
Why didn't you get a piece of fish?
LEE
(smirks)
I like the way this looks too.
SERVER
(using tongs, places a hot stone on the plank of wood, and a plate of raw steak and wooden skewers)
Skewer the meat and place it on the hot rock.
FINN
Got it.
LEE
You gonna eat all that?
FINN
(smirks while skewering meat)
Every bit.
FINN reuses the same skewer while eating.
LEE
(motions toward window)
Look, it's snowing already.
(reaches in large bag to retrieve her car key and beeps it to start the engine.)
FINN
You brought your car? You live like three blocks away.
LEE
But I knew it was gonna snow.
FINN
But, you couldn't tell me it was gonna-
LEE
They forecasted it.
FINN
It was supposed to be 75 degrees.
LEE
It was. Now it’s snowing.
FINN
It felt like summer.
LEE
Well, now you got winter. I saw this funny comic with mother nature and father time. Father time says, 'you can't do all four seasons in one week.' Mother nature says, 'hold my beer.'
FINN
That’s not really funny.
LEE
Oh, lighten up.
FINN
I didn't prepare for snow.
LEE
Is the top on your jeep?
FINN
Yeah, I put the soft top on before I left just in case it rained.
LEE
Snow's just frozen rain.
FINN
You don't think it's weird that the temperature dropped enough to snow today.
LEE
Sometimes the weather's weird.
FINN
Forty degrees weird?
LEE
The seven day forecast looked like lottery numbers. 75, 30, 50, 45, and then up to 70 again.
FINN
I just brought shorts and a thin hoodie.
LEE
You should have checked the week. I’ve some sweats that'll fit you. And we can just stay home on the cold days.
FINN
I gotta tell my sister about this. She's always asking, 'what happened to global warming?'
LEE
I'm curious myself.
FINN
You know erratic changes in the weather is part of climate change.
LEE
Kinda fitting we're in an apocalypse theme restaurant.
FINN
Yeah, you with a plastic straw and plastic plants.
LEE
I told you-
FINN
I know. I'm sorry.
LEE
I'm gonna go to the restroom.
FINN
I'll get the check.
LEE
You can get another drink or dessert.
FINN
I brought cupcakes from that bakery you like.
LEE
(walking to restroom with her bag)
Okay.
FINN
(motions toward the server for the check)
SERVER
Coffee or dessert?
FINN
No, we're good.
SERVER
(drops check)
FINN
(hands server payment)
LEE
(returns dressed in winter clothes including hat and scarf, carrying a big coat.)
You ready to go? Where's your car?
FINN
I parked in the casino lot.
LEE
I'll drive you to your car.
FINN
I can walk.
LEE
It’s freezing.
FINN
Okay, whatever.
LEE picks up the glass of water and leaves the paper coaster on the table, walking out of the restaurant with the glass of water in her hand.
FINN
You're took the glass.
LEE
I'm thirsty.
FINN
You could've drank it inside.
LEE
But I was hot in there with all these layers.
FINN
But that's not a to-go cup.
LEE
They have more. Who cares?
FINN
I'm sure they care.
LEE
(drinks a small amount of water and then tosses the glass with straw into the trashcan)
FINN
Lee!
LEE
(uses key fob to unlock her car doors)
What?
FINN
That's not disposable.
LEE
Well, I disposed of it. I thought you said I shouldn't take it.
FINN
You shouldn't throw it away either. You could use it at home.
LEE
I hate washing dishes. C'mon, get in my car.
FINN
My car's right there.
LEE
Stop being stubborn. You're gonna freeze.
FINN
(opens the passenger door)
How did it heat up so fast?
LEE
I beeped it when I saw it was snowing.
FINN
It's been running this whole time?
LEE
Just get in.
INT. LEE'S CAR
LEE
(makes turn away from the parking lot pointed out by FINN)
FINN
My car's back there.
LEE
I know but it's a one way street. I gotta go around.
FINN
I really could have walked.
LEE
I'm not gonna have you freeze to death when you came to celebrate my birthday.
FINN
You can just drive to your apartment.
LEE
I want the cupcakes you brought.
FINN
Well, I'll get them and just leave my car in the lot. I don't have to run my engine too
LEE
What if they ticket or tow your car?
FINN
Overnight?
LEE
It's Philly.
FINN
I'll just walk over in the morning.
LEE
You're not gonna walk. I'll drive you in the morning. But you're getting my cupcakes tonight.
FINN
If you're gonna start your car in the morning, I'll just drive tonight.
LEE pulls into parking lot, FINN gets out her car, and gets in his.
LEE
(rolls window down and calls out)
Sit in here while you warm your car!
FINN
I'm okay. I'll meet you at your place.
LEE
(shrugs and rolls up the window)
FADE OUT.
Before credits roll, statistics about impact of climate change as a result of plastics use and wasteful consumption of resources as well as erratic weather.