INT. GREG'S OFFICE - DAY
GREG, late 20's, sits in half-lotus position on his cluttered
desk. He is wearing a button-up shirt and tie. His shoes are
off.
His eyes are closed. His thumbs and middle fingers, touching.
He is meditating.
We can hear the sounds of a bustling corporate world outside
his office.
Door opens. Enter LOUIS, pre-teen, overweight, nerdy. He is
holding a cardboard drink carrier in which are four tall
mochas. Balanced on top of this is a small paper bag.
Louis closes the door behind him.
Greg does not respond to Louis' entry; continues meditating.
Louis stands still and watches Greg.
Some time passes.
LOUIS
Hey.
GREG
(eyes stay closed)
Hey.
Beat.
LOUIS
They were out of bagels.
GREG
Hm.
LOUIS
They did have cream cheese though,
so I got you the cream cheese. And
they were out of plastic knives so
I got you extra napkins and a
couple straws. I thought maybe you
could use the straws instead of a
knife.
GREG
Do you think I'm attractive?
LOUIS
I dunno.
GREG
Everyone says I'm handsome but I
think I'm ugly. Of course, I know
what's on the inside of me.
LOUIS
Do you want me to set this on your
desk?
Greg opens his eyes and looks at Louis.
He gestures for Louis to hand him the goods.
He takes one of the beverages and drinks it all gone.
Louis watches.
Letting out a huge sigh after finishing the drink, he hands
Louis the empty cup.
GREG
Recycle this.
LOUIS
Sorry about the bagels.
GREG
Not your fault.
LOUIS
It kinda is. My Dad's the baker.
GREG
Then it's your Dad's fault, not
yours.
Greg begins to drink second beverage.
LOUIS
Yeah. He's been pretty stressed out
lately.
GREG
Yeah?
LOUIS
Yeah. That's why I'm gloomy all the
time.
Knock on the door.
LENA, an attractive young executive, pops her head in.
LENA
Hey Greg? Oh hey, Louis.
LOUIS
(smiling)
Hey.
LENA
How's your Dad doing?
LOUIS
Oh, he's all stressed out.
LENA
Aw. Well tell him I said hello.
LOUIS
Okay.
LENA
Hey Greg? I'm still waiting for a
few things from Mark C, but I'll go
ahead and bring you the recent
batch and by the time you finish
going over it I'm sure Mark'll have
the rest of it in to me.
GREG
Great.
Lena smiles.
LENA
Nice to see you, Louis. Be good.
LOUIS
I will.
Lena closes door.
Greg stands on top of his desk and bends down to touch his
toes.
GREG
How old are you, Louis?
LOUIS
Almost fourteen.
GREG
Fourteen.
LOUIS
I'll be fourteen on February 8. I'm
an Aquarius.
Greg exhales dramatically and jumps off his desk.
Knock on the door.
Enter an eight foot tall LIZARD.
Both Greg and Louis are astonished.
LIZARD
(deep, gruff voice)
Hi.
(beat)
My name's Amy.
(beat)
I'm the new secretary sent over
from Varsity?
GREG
Oh, Amy.
LIZARD
Amy Rex, yes. Hi.
GREG
Hi. Welcome.
(beat)
Uh, why don't you have a seat and
I'll go over a few things with you.
Would you like something to drink?
LIZARD
Oh, thank you. Coffee would be
great.
GREG
Okay. Louis? Would you get Amy a
coffee?
LOUIS
Do you like cream or sugar or both?
They also have honey.
LIZARD
I like a lot of cream, please.
GREG
Anything to eat? A bagel?
LOUIS
No, Greg, they're out of bagels,
remember?
GREG
Oh. Right. Can we get you anything
else?
LIZARD
I wouldn't mind having...
(to Louis)
I'm sorry, what was your name?
LOUIS
My name's Louis.
LIZARD
Hi. I wouldn't mind having Louis
here. Since I'm a great big lizard
creature I love eating little boys.
GREG
Oh.
Looks to Louis and shrugs as if to say "Is that alright?"
LOUIS
Oh. Is it gonna hurt?
LIZARD
Yeah. It'll hurt really bad at
first until you're dead. Then it
won't.
LOUIS
Oh. Well...
LIZARD
Is that scary to you?
GREG
How about a cookie? Louis' Dad is a
baker and he makes the best cookies
I've ever had.
LIZARD
Oo, that sounds good. But I think
I'll just stick with Louis. I'm on
one of those tacky protein diets.
LOUIS
Greg, I don't think my Dad would be
okay with me being eaten.
GREG
Okay. Uh...
(awkward pause)
Tell you what, Amy. Why don't I get
you someone else to eat?
LIZARD
Who?
GREG
(to Louis)
Louis? Go see if Jan is busy.
LOUIS
Okay.
Louis exits quickly.
GREG
Sorry about all the...
LIZARD
Oh no, I'm sorry. I wish my order
wasn't so complicated.
GREG
So, you're gonna be with us...
LIZARD
Eight months.
GREG
Eight months, that's right. You'll
be one of the family. That's great.
I saw your resume. It's impressive.
LIZARD
Oh. Thank you.
GREG
I'm sure you're gonna work out
great. Today's actually the perfect
day for you to start because
tomorrow's the third of the month
and that's the day we...
Knock on the door.
GREG (CONT'D)
Yes?
Enter JAN, mid 30's. Nondescript and uncharismatic.
JAN
You needed me?
GREG
Yes. Hi Jan. Jan? This is Amy.
LIZARD
Hello. Nice to meet you.
JAN
Hello.
They shake hands.
GREG
Amy's over from Varsity. She's
gonna be here a while and I was
hoping you would let her eat you.
JAN
Oh. Okay.
Lizard eats Jan.
INT. BAKERY - LATER
Louis enters the front door of the bakery, which is empty.
LOUIS
Dad?
Louis goes behind the counter and grabs a Napoleon, which he
begins to eat.
He walks into the back room.
He stops.
His father, GARY, is huddled in a dark corner of the room.
His face is tear stained and anguished.
LOUIS (CONT'D)
Are you okay Dad?
Gary shudders and begins to cry. He holds out his arms to
Louis.
Louis goes to him and Gary embraces him, sobbing anew.
LOUIS (CONT'D)
What's wrong Dad?
(beat)
What's wrong?
GREG
Nothing. I'm just... I'm... I'm
just so scared... all the time...
I'm scared all the time...
Greg sobs.
Louis rubs his arm.
SLOW FADE TO
BLACK.
Sound of bell on front door opening.
VOICE (O.S.)
Hello? Are you open?
END