Fireside chat and enlightening revelations…
The ladies settle into an evening of comfort food, conversation, surprising film reference and coincidences.
FADE IN:
INT. BEACH HOUSE
As the scene fades in, we see the flames of a fire. Slowly the camera pulls out.
GAYLE
Nice fire. Great job you guys! And from the looks of it (sees the pile of wood they chopped), we’re well stocked for the evening.
FRAN
Great team effort.
JULIE
Yeah. That was fun!
The pull out continues until we see the girls sitting around a farmer’s table nearby.
They each have a chili-style bowl in front of them and there’s a basket with some fresh bread in it. And there are newly opened bottles of beer too. It’s obvious that the food is hitting the spot.
Comfort bowl classic…
JULIE
Wow! You did it again! This is awesome!
Gayle smiles.
JULIE
And before we go any further (she holds up her beer) I want to thank you (motions to Gayle and clinks her beer) and you (motions to Fran) for inviting me.
GAYLE
Glad you could make it. (to Fran)
You too. The woman of a million excuses.
FRAN
I know. I know. It’s exactly like what you said about the journey of a million miles…
GAYLE
…starting with a single step. Indeed. That first step IS the toughest.
JULIE
You said that?
GAYLE
Nah. I was quoting a Chinese saying– and for the record, it’s “ a thousand miles” not million.
Gayle gathers the empty bowls and motions for them to stay seated.
FRAN
(laughing) Ah… you know me… close enough is close enough.
JULIE
Ah… that reminds me of that scene from Indiana Jones (LAST CRUSADE 19), where Indy closes his eyes and then steps onto the path leading to the Grail cup…
Gayle and Fran both look at each other surprised to hear this reference from Julie. Gayle smiles and nods.
GAYLE
Yeah… it’s exactly like that.
FRAN
Good connection! (to Gayle) Who knew?
Gayle smiles. And Julie, fully relaxed and into the moment, is enjoying her meal and not picking up on any side conversations between Fran and Gayle. They quietly eat a few bites before Fran finally pipes up.
FRAN
Okay… I can’t let it go. How did you know that Indiana Jones reference?
JULIE
I had a Humanities teacher in high school who was way into mythology and especially Grail lore. He took our class to see the movie and made us study symbols and references.
It was kind of fun and certainly something that stuck with me.
FRAN
Nice!
GAYLE
Okay, Fran. While I get the tea water going, how about enlightening Julie on how you knew.
Fran blushes a bit and then points to Gayle.
FRAN
I cannot tell a lie… She did it. (pause). You see. I watched it the first time when I was in college — but to me… it was just an escape from having to study. It wasn’t until that one (points towards the kitchen Gayle) got me to rent it and we watched it together.
SHE is the one who got the symbolism and connections. She really got me to study film– and in a way, look for the story beyond the story.
JULIE
That’s cool. (shouts to Gayle in the kitchen) So Gayle, what made you so hip on it?
Gayle pokes her head out of the kitchen.
GAYLE
Hang on. That’s a tea and cookies by the fireplace discussion.
Just then, the teapot begins to whistle.
GAYLE
Can you guys open that hall closet and pull out three TV tables and set them up by the fire?
FRAN & JULIE
No problem! We’re on it!
We follow Fran and Julie as they open the closet door and reach in. Fran pulls out what looks like a TV table– but not the kind you get at Target.
FRAN
Whoa! Check this out!
She hands it to Julie and then reaches for another one.
JULIE
Hand-painted? (she holds it at all angles to admire it) Hand-crafted?
Fran pulls the third one out and admires it.
FRAN
These are way cool!
Just then Gayle joins them and takes one of the TV trays.
FRAN
What’s the story with these guys?
As they are setting up the TV trays and arranging chairs by the fire, Gayle talks about their history.
GAYLE
These were made by a local craftsman for my grandma — in appreciation for her taking him in for meals every Saturday night.
JULIE
How nice!
GAYLE
This room is full of history. Every Saturday night, a gathering of really talented people would take place here by the fireplace… If you’ve read anything about the salons in Paris in the 20s & 30s… it was like that.
Julie and Fran are nodding.
FRAN
I can see that.
GAYLE
When I was young, parents sent me up here to spend my summers with Grandma. I used to sit over in that corner (she points) and listen to the amazing stories her visitors would tell.
FRAN
Who needs TV or a radio when you have THAT for your entertainment?
GAYLE
For me, the toughest part was staying awake. I’d play so hard all day at the beach that I was a very tired puppy by the time we got around to fireside storytelling.
JULIE
So how did you stay awake?
GAYLE
Somehow I found a way. But, come to think of it– I’m not sure how much of what I remember were the actual stories or where my mind and my imagination leapt to as I was fading in and out of dreamland.
FRAN
Either way, it certainly sounds like that was a magical time for you.
GAYLE
Yeah, it was. (pause) You know, Grandma would be really happy to see us here today continuing that tradition… It’s a bummer she can’t be here.
Fran and Julie look at each other while Gayle retreats to the kitchen.
JULIE
(whispers) So I take Grandma passed away?
FRAN
Not sure. Could be in a home. No doubt she’s alive and well in the hearts and minds of the people she influenced.
They silently watch the fire– lost in thought. Then Gayle returns with a plate of cookies in one hand and two steaming mugs of tea in the other. She sets them down. And steps away to retrieve her own tea.
We see Julie and Fran place their mugs down and then they each take a cookie. As Julie bites into hers, Fran is just holding hers up– admiring it.
JULIE
(still chewing) What?
FRAN
Amazing!
Then Fran reaches into the side pocket of the CARGO PANTS she’s wearing. She pulls out one of the sand dollars she picked up at the beach.
FRAN
Check this out! Simpatico!
Julie stops what she’s doing and looks at the cookie next to the sand dollar.
Gayle re-enters the room.
FRAN
I get it now. Sand Dollar cookies?
GAYLE
Another one of Grandma’s traditions… obviously influenced by her beachcombing experiences.
They settle down near the fire.
###
To be continued in Toll House Tales #117
[…] To be continued in Toll House Tales #116 […]