LJ Idol 10.11 - The Blue Hour
EXT. BEACH - DUSK
DAISY (30s) sits alone in the sand, watching the waves crash into the shore. She's pale, and slightly sallow. Her expression is contemplative, sad. There's a lot on her mind.
FRED (40s) slowly walks toward her from behind. He sits down beside her, wraps one arm around her, while pulling her closest hand into his other one.
They sit in silence for a short while.
FRED
Reg told me you'd come out here. What did the doctor say?
DAISY
Stage four breast cancer. If it weren't for you and Reg, I don't know how I'd cope.
FRED pulls DAISY closer to him, and kisses the top of her head.
FRED
I love you, Dais. You know that. Anything you need from us, you just name it.
DAISY
I wish I could be sad, grieve the life I'm never going to have, but right now I'm just angry. Angry at myself for never listening to my mom about getting regular mammograms. Breast cancer is survivable, if only I'd bothered to get things checked out earlier.
FRED
Dais, you can't blame yourself. Reg and I don't pay for preventative care measures either. It's the fucking screwy healthcare system that's to blame. It's just not affordable. If you have to blame someone, blame the politicians. Blame Republicans. But don't blame yourself.
DAISY
Doesn't really help to hear that. Where's Reg now?
FRED
Reading in the car, I think. He wanted to let us have some time alone before joining us for dinner.
DAISY
That's sweet of him. He was a mess earlier. He probably wanted to let you cry like he did.
FRED
Oh, Reg. Ever the thoughtful one.
DAISY
I'm not sure I have an appetite for dinner. Should I just text him to come join us here? Or do you need more time, just the two of us, first?
FRED
Whatever you need, Dais. I told you that.
DAISY releases FRED's hand and reaches into her over-the-shoulder bag beside her, pulling out her smartphone. While she texts, FRED caresses the bare skin of her nearest leg, right up to the hem of her short shorts. DAISY smiles.
DAISY
Now, now, Fred. You should know that is something I still have an appetite for, as long as I'm not right on death's doorstep.
DAISY puts her phone away again, and swings herself around to sit on top of FRED, facing him, before leaning down to kiss him.
FRED
You're not usually this into PDAs, though.
DAISY
I figure it doesn't matter any more. I may as well live while I can if I'll be gone in less than six months.
DAISY kisses FRED again, right as REG (30s-40s) also joins them.
REG
I hope there's room for me in there.
DAISY
Always.
DAISY reaches up to REG and pulls him down to their level by his t-shirt. Then she kisses him, too.
REG
(laughing)
You're incorrigible right now, you know that?
DAISY
But you love me anyway.
FRED
I doubt she'd be this blatant if there were actually other people on the beach.
DAISY
You never know, now. This is San Francisco. No one cares.
FRED
True, but Ocean Beach ain't the same as the Castro. Or Folsom Street Fair.
REG
Which, by the way, you've never been to with us. And it coming up in a couple of weeks.
DAISY
And it's your wish that I go watch you two blow each other in the street before I die?
Reg
Well...
DAISY
Fred?
FRED smiles suggestively.
DAISY
Okay, I'm in.