A photographer encounters a beautiful young lady on the street. He tries to photograph in his way, but she takes control and suprises him. The film is a single continuous steadicam shot, approx. 10 min. in length.

EXT. - A STREET - DAY

A dry suburban street. Cyclone fences teeter, nappy with rusty barbs and razor wire. Houses are sun-bleached pastels. Front yards; concrete, dirt or green plastic carpeting.

Harry walks down the street, he is carrying a camera. He’s walking slow, looking around, scanning for photos. He stops to take one: it’s peeling paint on the side of a building. The paint is many layered and each flake is large, forming great dramatic rolls like a red carpet unfurling for a movie star.

His eyes open a little wider, there are great photos here; a child rides her plastic tricycle in circles around a sleeping pit bull in a concrete yard. She doesn’t notice him and he stops to snap a shot of this scene.

A little further down the street a young woman, Crystal. She leans impatiently on an old car. The surface of the car is flat, it’s clear coat burned off by the relentless sunshine.

Harry sees a perfect shot here; her leaning on the car, blasé, sexy and sad. She’s backlit by the sky and framed by palm trees and electric lines that recede to the horizon, the shadows on her face are filled by the reflections from the liquor store windows in front of her.

He tries to frame up the shot, but he need to get closer.

He steps closer and closer, hoping she won’t notice him. Of course when he raises the camera to his eye, she does look up. He rushes to snap the shot. It’ framed poorly and possibly out of focus. Now she’s just staring at him.

HARRY
“Sorry”

Harry starts to move on.

CRYSTAL
“Did you just take my picture?!”

HARRY
I just saw something, I’m an artist. It’s nothing.

CRYSTAL
What are you going to do with my picture?

HARRY
Uh…Nothing…Sorry.

He is shy and trying to slip away.

She steps into his path.

CRYSTAL
Ok, I’ll let you take a photo, If you get me a pack of cigarettes.

She gives him a flirty look. Well practiced, she is used to guys giving her what she wants.

Harry hesitates and considers this. She doesn’t look over 18.

HARRY
Those things will kill you.

CRYSTAL
Hey, go get me some smokes.

HARRY
Okay, what kind?

CRYSTAL
Western Lights.

HARRRY
And then you’ll pose for a photo?

CRYSTAL
Yes.


Harry goes into the store.

While Harry is in the store Crystal pops into the car, sits on the passenger seat and goes in the glovebox. She pulls out a pistol and a strip of photo booth photos. The gun is huge in her small hands. The photos are of her and a black man. She revels in the photos, imagining him, wishing he was with her, sad and beautiful. She slips the gun into her waistband.

Harry comes out with the cigarettes. He hands them to her.

She tosses them on the dashboard and gets out of the car.

CRYSTAL
Thanks, let’s do this photo.

HARRY
Ok, kinda lean up against the car like you were before.

Harry tries to frame up the shot like he had it before. It’s not quite working, but he snaps it anyway. He notices the gun in her waistband.

HARRY
Great, got it. Have a nice day.

CRYSTAL
Hold up, do one with me on the hood.

Harry is now a little frightened, but he complies.

HARRY
OK like how do you want it?

CRYSTAL
Like this.

She gets up on the hood and lays down, totally exposing the gun in her waistband.

CRYSTAL
Ok and another one like this

She poses, kneeling in profile. She draws the gun and holds it like she’s blowing smoke off the barrel.

HARRY
Nice, that’s a good one.

CRYSTAL
Can I get copies of these photos.

HARRY
Yeah, I guess.

Crystal does another sexy pose, this time she points the gun straight at the camera.

HARRY
Oh shit, is that real?

CRYSTAL
Don’t worry, it’s my Boyfriend’s.
(giggles)

HARRY
Oh… where’s your boyfriend.

CRYSTAL
Jail, these photos are for him… One more.

She does another pose.

HARRY
I’m out of film.

CRYSTAL
Thanks, how can I get my copies.

HARRY
Well, just give me your phone number and I’ll call you when they are ready.

CRYSTAL
No, just give me the film.

HARRY
But I need that film.

She jams the pistol in his face.

CRYSTAL
Give me the fucking film.

Harry starts rewinding the film.

CRYSTAL
Don’t’ fuck it up

She’s still pointing the gun at his face.

HARRY
I’m just rewinding

He takes the film out and gives it to her.

Harry walks away swiftly, looking over his shoulder.

Crystal sits down in the car, the drivers seat. She tosses the film and the gun back in the glovebox. She opens the cigarettes and lights one. She picks up the photo strip and looks at it again, enjoying her hard earned smoke and these memories of her boyfriend. She flips it over and reads the writing on the back:

I love you sugar-fly.Take care of Biz while I’m locked up. One Love, Big EZ.

FADE OUT

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