A new day. Settling in and embracing the adventure.
Up early. Journal jotting. Coffee sipping. A chat about “happy coincidences” and a run with the mentor who has a surprise in store for her visitors.
FADE IN — BLACK SCREEN WITH WHITE WRITING
Saturday Morning
The words fade from the screen.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. GAYLE’S CONDO
Fran is sitting on the floor of the bedroom with her legs stretched out. She has her journal open and is writing away. Her voice is heard reading what is being written.
Note: As she describes things the page dissolves to recreate the scene and then dissolves back to her writing.
FRAN
Morning Musings – 12 Oct
Well, we made it. This morning I’m writing from Gayle’s condo in Portland. We definitely cut it close to make that flight. Plus, I totally forgot that airport doesn’t have normal jetways– so we had to walk out on the tarmac and up the stairs into the plane– so Air Force One! But I digress…
It was an incredible evening and we both were surprised to be taken to the famous Powell’s bookstore right after grabbing a bite at Gayle’s cafe. Powell’s is everything they say and more. I could have easily spent more time there, but they were closing. Plus, Gayle has plans for us today that she wasn’t willing to disclose. She’s mysterious at times–and I have to learn to relax and roll with it… embrace the adventure.Speaking of rolling– I’ll admit that I’m kind of fascinated that Julie really came along. I thought she was just humoring me (us), but she’s here too — sound asleep in the other room as far as I can tell. Thing is, I was really having a hard time seeing her doing anything other than work. Shame on me for putting her into a box like that. Sure she seemed a little anxious… but then again, we hardly know each other, right? Anyway, once we got to Gayle’s cafe, she seemed like an entirely different person.
Plus, I didn’t see what book she bought– but she seemed really jazzed about it. Perhaps Doogie was right about this one, though its kind of early to tell.
It’s just that… I guess at this stage of my development… my “morphication” (yeah, I made up that word) from work person to who I’m really supposed to be… being around anyone who seems like a “head’s down,” my work is my life sort of people tends to freak me out. It’s kind of like how ex-smokers don’t want to be around folks who smoke.
I’m really glad that Gayle was persistent about getting me to break away and come up here. I wonder what’s the game plan for today? Wait… I think I hear the grinder. Cool…She’s up.
Must away! – F
The journal is closed as the scene fades to black.
FADE OUT
With blackened screen you hear the snap of the rubber band on the journal and the distant sound of a coffee maker signaling the end of its cycle (Beep, beep, beep).
FADE IN:
INT. GAYLE’S KITCHEN
Gayle is sitting at her breakfast bar– swivel stools on the other side of her kitchen counter. She is reading “Sea of Cortez” and sipping on her fresh brewed coffee. There’s a coffee mug on the counter, next to the maker.
FRAN
Wow! That smells awesome!
Gayle looks up and smiles.
GAYLE
Good morning, Sunshine! Go ahead and help yourself. Do you still drink it black?
FRAN
Absolutely. Something that smells this good shouldn’t be doctored with milk or sugar.
GAYLE
A-men! (pause) So how’d you sleep last night?
FRAN
Like a baby. That featherbed is fantastic! I’d probably still be down, but out of habit I’m up early.
GAYLE
Morning is the best part of the day…
FRAN
You always told me that and for the longest time, I thought… like “yeah right.” (pause) But you know…
GAYLE
(playing with her)
You know … what?
FRAN
The what is… that I get it… FINALLY! I totally get it… and now that I’m so into the routine of reading, writing and running in the mornings that… I yeah… I can truly say that I REALLY dig mornings.
Gayle smiles and nods. Fran points to the book Gayle is reading.
FRAN
I saw you pick that up last night. What drew you to it?
GAYLE
It’s something I always wanted to read. Are you familiar with it?
Fran shakes her head no.
GAYLE
John Steinbeck kept a log of what went on during a marine life collection trip took with buddy Ed Ricketts, the guy he patterned Doc after in Cannery Row, and a few others.
FRAN
Oh… marine life, huh?… Did you study that in school as part of your science requirement?
GAYLE
Nah. Though the discussion of sea critters is interesting– I’m more intrigued by the other stuff they talked about.
FRAN
Other stuff? Like what?
GAYLE
There’s a section about non-teleological thinking that’s famous.
FRAN
What kind of thinking?
GAYLE
It’s a fancy term for “Is” thinking. Basically, it favors acceptance over seeking a cause and effect relationship to everything.
FRAN
And it’s called Is thinking?
GAYLE
Yeah… think of it like that phrase “It is what it is”? That was probably first spoken by John and Doc on their adventure that took place almost 60 years ago.
FRAN
Alas, as the saying goes, everything old is new again.
GAYLE
Indeed. Now circling back to your original question…
Fran looks puzzled.
GAYLE
Remember? You wanted to know what drew me to it?
FRAN
Uh yeah… but I thought you answered it…
GAYLE
Sort of… I didn’t explain why I always wanted to read it.
FRAN
Oh… alright… go on…
GAYLE
I had heard that these guys went on an adventure with the purpose of collecting marine life, but came back with so much more. It was like a multi-layered, multi-level journey… and maybe, just maybe… it was because they got away from their normal daily routines, and were moving in a purposeful yet relaxed state of mind, they were open to clearer and bigger thinking.
Fran nods as though she is following Gayle’s train of thought, though not really sure where that train is going. So she gets up and busies herself with warming up her coffee and motioning to warm up Gayle’s.
FRAN
O-h—kay.
GAYLE
Hang with me a little longer. There’s a point.
FRAN
There always is.
GAYLE
Okay… so I had this idea last night while I was working– and that’s why we did
Powell’s on our way here.
FRAN
So you were seeking out this …”The Log from the Sea of Cortez” book?
Fran says holding up the book.
GAYLE
No. That was a happy coincidence… serendipity. (pause) I thought it would be really fun for us to take a trip out to my grandma’s beach house… The weather is so perfect, and so rare, for October.
FRAN
Sounds cool… Besides, I’m now all yours… You got me up here, Gayle, so whatever you want to do, I’m game… (pause) As for our other guest…
They both look down the hallway towards the room where Julie is sleeping, and then back at the clock.
GAYLE
Poor thing. She looked really tired last night, so I’m not surprised she’s still sleeping.
FRAN
She was sort of cat-naping on the plane too. Come to think of it, I’m not sure how much sleep she gets during the week– seems like the Execs are really pushing her. She’s in before I arrive and leaves late.
GAYLE
Humm… in that case, let’s leave her alone a bit longer so she can properly recharge.
FRAN
Sounds good.
GAYLE
Hey, you up for a run in a bit?
FRAN
Of course! I was going to ask you if we had time for that. How long you want to go for?
GAYLE
Just a half hour or so. We really do need to get out of here by mid-morning if we want to have time to enjoy the beach before it gets too cold. Short days are a drag…
FRAN
Sounds good to me. What about Julie? Don’t you think she’ll freak out if she wakes up to an empty house?
GAYLE
No worries. We’ll leave her a note and I’ll set up the coffee maker so all she has to do is hit the start button and –whoa-la! A fresh pot!
FRAN
Always thinking ahead, you are…
FADE OUT
###
>> Watch for Toll House Tales: All Fired Up -110
[…] >> Watch for Toll House Tales: All Fired Up -109 […]