INT. THE HYPNOTIC CAFE - NOON
The cafe is packed full of people, many of whom sit in
booths across the front. The food counter in the back is
smaller, and less packed. On the very edge sits a
sharp-dressed man.
This stranger looks around the cafe, observing each
individual. He looks down at a photo he holds in his hand. A
waiter startles him.
WAITER
What would you like, sir?
THE STRANGER
(hesitant)
A small coffee, that’s all.
The waiter nods and walks down the counter to fetch the said
coffee. The stranger returns to observing one particular
customer, who sits in a booth.
Outside the window behind the booth, the stranger spots a
couple arguing. The girl slaps the young man, and
immediately walks off. The young man, holding his hand to
his face, watches as she storms away. He slowly turns toward
the entrance of the cafe.
The stranger watches as the young man hurriedly walks into
the cafe, and hops into the seat right next to his at the
counter.
The young man holds his cheek, which is slightly pink from
the slap.
YOUNG MAN
(frustrated)
God.
The stranger glances at the young man. The waiter returns
with coffee, and places it down in front of the stranger.
THE STRANGER
Thank you.
The waiter nods, and turns to the young man.
WAITER
What would you like, sir?
YOUNG MAN
(forcibly)
Give me a minute.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
The waiter turns and walks away. The stranger takes a deep
sip of his coffee, then sets it down and, without looking,
starts a conversation.
THE STRANGER
Hod bad d’she slap you?
The young man turns and stares at the stranger, slightly
surprised.
YOUNG MAN
(surprised)
Excuse me?
THE STRANGER
I saw your little argument with
your- girlfriend, was it?
The young man’s anger turns in to a fake grin. He turns
away.
YOUNG MAN
Whatever she was, she’s not that
now.
THE STRANGER
I’m so sorry to hear that. It looks
like she got you good on the side
there.
The young man glances back at the stranger.
YOUNG MAN
(agitated)
Yeah. I probably deserved it.
What’s it to you?
The stranger simply turns and takes another deep sip of his
coffee. The waiter returns.
WAITER
Have you decided, sir?
YOUNG MAN
Uh, yeah. Let me have a turkey and
cheese sandwich and an orange
juice.
The waiter nods, and walks away with his order. The young
man digs into his pocket, only to realize he doesn’t have
enough money.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
YOUNG MAN
(agitated)
Great. Awesome.
The waiter returns with a glass of orange juice, and sets it
down in front of the young man.
YOUNG MAN
Excuse me, but-
The stranger cuts in.
THE STRANGER
Would you put that young man’s
order on my bill?
WAITER
Sure, no problem.
The waiter nods once more, and walks away. The young man
looks at the stranger as he takes yet another sip of his
coffee.
YOUNG MAN
Why?
THE STRANGER
Because I’d like to know what
fueled that argument.
The stranger simply grins, waiting for a response. The young
man sighs. There is a long beat.
A fly buzzes around the stranger’s coffee. The young man
looks on as it lands on the table. The stranger swipes down
on the fly forcibly with his hand.
THE STRANGER
Damn flies, sorry.
YOUNG MAN
She said I need to stop being such
an "insect".
The stranger studies the young man’s face, reflecting on
what he just said.
THE STRANGER
An insect? How so?
The young man taps the glass of orange juice with his index
finger.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
YOUNG MAN
Well, some insects set traps, or
hide in plain sight. They can be
very deceitful, y’know? But, it
does this to survive; it’s to
protect itself; keep a place in the
world inhabited by other little
pesky things.
The waiter brings the young man’s food and sets it down in
front of him. As the young man begins to eat, he continues.
YOUNG MAN
They also do this to catch prey. I
mean, this insect sees a good fly
coming along, and it doesn’t have
time to think, it just naturally
reacts to what seems to be the best
idea in it’s simplistic little
head. In a matter of seconds, it
sets up a trap, and it strikes.
"Why", you might ask. Why? Because
it’s essential for survival.
The stranger takes a sip of his coffee, eyes heavy on the
young man.
YOUNG MAN
The point of all this is that she
just doesn’t understand that
sometimes I do something because
it’s what I think is the best
decision at that time. I don’t
always have time to consult things.
She just doesn’t understand the
stress in making a choice.
The stranger is intrigued by the young man’s thoughts and
views. He takes another sip of his coffee, then responds.
THE STRANGER
Perhaps you’re misinterpreting her
meaning of "insect".
YOUNG MAN
Oh really? How’s that?
THE STRANGER
Insects take part in attracting
each other, mating, then going
their separate ways. Hell, some
just flat out die after mating. Do
insects make love? No, there is no
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
THE STRANGER (cont’d)
feeling beyond pure instinct. That
fly it caught, is it even thinking
about sharing it with another
six-legged buddy? Nope. It caught
that fly for it’s own self
survival, and if another butted in,
it’d fight to the death over that
stupid fly.
The waiter brings the bill to the stranger, then walks away.
THE STRANGER
Now, the one thing we as human
beings possess is the idea of love.
Don’t think of yourself as that
insect, think of the real you
catching that fly because it’s
energy for both you and her. You’re
the young man making decisions for
the ones you love, not just
yourself.
YOUNG MAN
I can make decisions for myself
too, though.
The stranger points a finger to him.
THE STRANGER
True, but as a human being, you
have the right to choose what you
do. The question is, are you going
to let her walk away thinking
you’re the insect, or are you going
to go and prove her wrong?
The young man pauses on the stranger’s words, then responds.
YOUNG MAN
(sarcastically)
Well, she did slap me.
The young man smiles, and so does the stranger.
YOUNG MAN
Thank you for the advice, and for
the meal. I don’t think I caught
your name.
THE STRANGER
I’m just a stranger.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.
YOUNG MAN
Well, stranger, there needs to be
more people like you.
A man passes the counter and heads into the restroom. The
stranger watches, then begins to stand up.
THE STRANGER
I’m heading to the restroom, I’ll
be right back.
The stranger walks toward the restroom and enters it.
INT. THE HYPNOTIC CAFE - RESTROOM - A MOMENT LATER
The man who was followed in exits one stall. The stranger
faces him, blocking the door as he stares.
STALL MAN
What? Do I know you?
The stranger holds up a picture, matching it with the face
of the man.
THE STRANGER
We have a match.
The stranger reaches into his breast pocket, and pulls out a
silenced pistol.
STALL MAN
Wait, I know what this is, don’t!
The stranger shoots him in the chest a couple of times. The
man falls to the ground, and blood begins to fill the floor.
The stranger returns the pistol to it’s rightful pocket, and
hurriedly exits the restroom.
INT. THE HYPNOTIC CAFE - IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
The stranger returns to the counter, but does not sit down.
THE STRANGER
I’m afraid I’m running late for a
meeting.
The stranger leaves cash and a tip on the counter.
YOUNG MAN
Well, thanks for everything.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
The stranger merely smiles, then walks toward the entrance,
and exits.
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