California Girls

INT. GROCERY STORE CHECKOUT LINE- MID AFTERNOON

An upscale grocery store. Spoiled soccer moms and affluent eccentrics are buying weekend necessities.

KENNETH and STEPHEN enter the checkout line and PLUNK their two, 2 liter water bottles on the rotating conveyor.

On the converyor in front of their water are the groceries of another customer: 5 bottles of "Vitamin Water" 10 bottles of "Nouriche" yogurt drink, 15 Ritter-Sport chocolate bars, 2 bags of Kettle chips and a 12-pack of Diet coke.

They are being purchased by CALIFORNIA GIRL, in lime green tank top, lime green flip flops and lime green visor and worn jeans. She is slender but something about her look is slovenly from either hard living, inattentiveness or both. She could be 28, she could be 35.

The STORE PA SYSTEM CRACKLES an announcement

PA SYSTEM

Clean-up on aisle 9. Could (incomprehensible)... liter bottle...(incomprehensible)... Thank you.

CALIFORNIA GIRL looks around. She studies the checkout lane number. She turns to KENNETH behind her.

CALIFORNIA GIRL

Did they say something about us?

KENNETH looks at her, puzzled. CALIFORNIA GIRL sees he doesn't understand her.

CALIFORNIA GIRL (CONT'D)

They said something about aisle 9...

KENNETH

(now understanding)

Oh, that's aisle 9. We're in check-out lane 9.

CALIFORNIA GIRL

(as if her confusion at this was wholly legitimate)

These stores can be very confusing. I was in one where there were two aisles with the same number. Actually, it was more like each aisle had two numbers. One for each side. It was very hard to find anything when people told you what aisle to look in.

KENNETH

(unsure of what a polite response would be)

Yes. I suppose that could be confusing.

CALIFORNIA GIRL

I think part of it is that I don't ascribe the same meanings to words that most people do.

KENNETH

That could make it very hard to relate to the rest of the world.

CALIFORNIA GIRL

(feeling understood)

It does!

CALIFORNIA GIRL rummages through her purse and pulls an enormous fold of cash from her wallet. She sifts through it indiscretely several times, as if confused by the act of counting, or perhaps so that everyone in line sees that she carries nearly $400 in cash with her. She pays, and lingers at the end of the check out, arranging her items. KENNETH and STEPHEN pay for their water, and exit the store.

EXT. GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT- MID AFTERNOON

KENNETH and STEPHEN walk to their car.

KENNETH

Was she trying to pick me up?

STEPHEN

I think so, but it was rather pathetic

KENNETH

She was loony

STEPHEN

But you like them crazy