Chapter 1 of 2
Scene One — The Waiting Room
INT. WAITING ROOM — DAY
Two plastic chairs, bolted to the floor, angled slightly toward each other whether anyone wants them to be or not. A wall clock, five minutes fast. NADIA (30s, still in her coat) sits in one. OKAY (60s, unhurried) sits in the other, already settled in like he's been here longer than the building has.
NADIA
Is it always this quiet?
OKAI
Only on the good days. Bad days it's quiet in a different way.
NADIA
That's not reassuring.
OKAI
Wasn't trying to reassure you. Just answering the question.
(A pause. NADIA checks her phone. Puts it away. Checks it again.)
NADIA
Sorry. I don't usually — I'm not good at waiting.
OKAI
Nobody's good at it. Some of us have just had more practice losing.
NADIA
Losing?
OKAI
The argument with the clock. You always lose that one. Might as well stop having it.
(NADIA almost laughs, in spite of herself.)
NADIA
What are you waiting for?
OKAI
Same as you, probably. Different door, same kind of news behind it.
(The clock ticks. Neither of them look at it.)