Stay - A Scene

The two characters in this dialogue are JARED and STELLA, both living in Los Angeles. JARED is a defense lawyer, and recently won a case defending a pimp, something for which he feels extremely guilty. He often sees hookers hanging around his practice, and picks up STELLA because her eyes are the loneliest he has seen. He feels that he will somehow redeem himself for setting a pimp free if he can talk to STELLA and try to make her not lonely, but he finds that he cannot control his anger at her reasons to put herself through prostitution. STELLA is a hooker who started when she was 19 because she needed money for drugs, specifically heroin. STELLA is trying get out of her drug addiction, but she has recently fallen back into it. In this scene, JARED has picked up STELLA and they have just finished sleeping together. JARED fell asleep immediately after they finished, and STELLA has waited around to be paid, and all the while she has been thinking about her addiction and why she continues to do this to herself.

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The scene starts in a motel room. The camera moves from the bed, where a man lays, disheveled within the sheets, to the bathroom, where a woman, STELLA, is putting on her makeup. She has heavy eyeliner and is currently removing some of which that has run down her cheeks from crying. She stares into the mirror at herself then moves to the main room of the motel.

The man in the bed, JARED, stirs as she begins to gather her things. The camera has a wide shot with the bed in the middle of the frame for most of the scene.

JARED

Mmmh--Oh, you're awake.

STELLA

Have been for a while.

JARED

Oh...Sorry. I didn't mean to make you wait.

STELLA

No need to apologize. You were asleep. People need their sleep.

JARED

You're a person.

STELLA

Am I really? That's a first.

JARED

Well, I meant that...don't you need your sleep?

STELLA

What leads you to believe that I don't get my sleep?

JARED

You were very tired last night.

STELLA

Was I?

JARED

You kept yawning.

STELLA

Ha--well maybe that was just you.

JARED

What?

STELLA

Nothing, nothing.

There is silence for a few seconds while STELLA continues to put together her things and JARED begins to get out of the bed.

JARED

How much is it that I owe you?

STELLA

Don't worry about it.

JARED

What?

STELLA

Don't worry about it.

JARED

I heard what you said.

STELLA

Then why did you say "what?"?

JARED

I've never heard of a...I've never been told not to worry about it...

STELLA

Well there's a first time for everything.

JARED

What was yours like?

STELLA

Excuse me?

JARED

I'm curious, if you don't mind...what was it like? Your first time doing…this. I probably wouldn't be able to relate much...but--

STELLA

Exactly. You can't relate. So there's no point in telling you anything.

JARED

Sorry, just...I didn't mean any disrespect.

There is an awkward silence while STELLA feels bad for her lash out at JARED. She sits down on the bed with her back to JARED.

STELLA

I was nineteen.

JARED

What?

STELLA

My first time...with this...I was nineteen.

JARED

Oh. That's young.

STELLA

Not as young as some of the others.

JARED

I'm sorry.

STELLA

It doesn't matter. Do you still want to hear the story?

JARED

Sure.

STELLA

I was nineteen. I just got out of high school and I was trying to get a job.

JARED

For what?

STELLA

What?

JARED

Most people have a reason for getting a job.

STELLA

I needed money.

JARED

Everyone needs money. What did you need it for?

STELLA

Buying things.

JARED

Like..?

STELLA

Like food. Or clothes.

JARED

Or?

STELLA

Or what? What are you trying to say?

JARED

I saw your arm. Don't try to play it off like you're some innocent little girl. You're just a druggie.

STELLA

Fuck you.

JARED

You already did.

STELLA stands and turns towards JARED.

STELLA

What the hell is your problem? First you start out all nice, asking me about my first time with shit guys like you, and now you're all yelling at me for doing drugs?

JARED

I don't like people who try to hide their past.

STELLA

I don't like people who nose into other people's business.

JARED

Well then.

STELLA

Well.

STELLA sits back down angrily, and starts scratching her arm.

JARED

How much do I owe you?

STELLA

Whatever, just, nevermind.

JARED

Okay, look, I'm sorry I said you're a pathetic druggie...Can I please just pay you?

STELLA

You didn't say I was pathetic.

JARED

Well there you go, I'm not all bad.

STELLA

You're such an asshole.

JARED

As if I didn't know.

STELLA

Why did you take me here?

JARED

Because it's the closest hotel to my work.

STELLA

No...why did you even pick me up? You seem like the guy who doesn't need a girl like me to be satisfied.

JARED

Your eyes.

STELLA

My eyes?

JARED

They were so...sad and lonely. Not to be too sappy, but I thought you might want someone to be with tonight. Even if it's an asshole.

Both breathe in a deep sigh and move their hands further back to lean back. Their hands touch just barely. As each speaks, they turn their heads to address each other without a full turn around.

STELLA

Thanks.

JARED

No problem.

Camera slowly zooms out. Fade to black.