The Archaic: A Scene, Again

Just messing around here.

EXT. PIRI’S — DAY

 

CHENOA hurries past a line of boarded storefronts, fishing desperately through her purse. Stopping in front of the restaurant, she rifles through her bag harshly and the contents spill out over the sidewalk.

 

CHENOA

Fudge!

 

HENRY drags a case down the stairs from the apartment above the restaurant. He drops the case noisily and stoops to pick up the tube of lipstick that rolls to his feet. CHENOA still searches the bag.

 

HENRY

Someone say fudge?

 

CHENOA

(doesn’t hear Henry)

Thank God!

(she holds up a key; a pause, she notices HENRY trying to hand her the lipstick, she picks it from his fingers)

Oh. Thank you.

(a pause; nervously)

Do you need help with your case?

 

HENRY

Nope, do this all the time. You?

 

CHENOA

(looking up)

You live up there?

 

HENRY

Mostly. It doesn’t cost much to maintain.

 

CHENOA

Know what you mean.

(shrugs)

Only the best waitresses get to open.

 

HENRY

On that note.

(lifts case; a pause; squints at CHENOA’s name tag)

It was nice to meet you, Chenoa.

 

CHENOA feigns a curtsy and watches him lurch down the sidewalk. Shaking her head, she stabs the key into the lock and enters PIRI’S.