Living By Thomas Wolf This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA. FADE IN: Titles over following scene. EXT. CITY STREET DAY Mike, a taller thin man in his early twenties, exits a yellow cab onto a busy Chicago street. He is wearing a long black wool overcoat and is carrying a leather side bag. Mike walks down the busy street and enters a small and cluttered corner store. End titles. INT. CORNER STORE DAY The store, lined with half empty shelves, is empty except for Mike and the Clerk. Mike walks up to the CLERK who is standing behind a protective glass partition reading a magazine. MIKE 2 packs of Lucky Strikes. The clerk puts down the magazine he is reading and reaches above him to grab a pack of cigarettes from the rack that hangs over his head. CLERK $10.50 Mike hands the clerk a 20 dollar bill. CLERK (handing money over) Here you go. Mike takes the change from the man and leaves the store. EXT. CITY STREET DAY Continue titles. Mike crosses the busy street filled with speeding cars and walks pas a sign reading ÒDe Paul University, ChicagoÓ. Mike walks into a large building. INT. DE PAUL LAW LIBRARY DAY Mike enters a large library which has vaulted ceilings and is filled with warm colored wood. Mikes walks to a secluded table in the back of the library and sets his bag down. He takes out a piece of paper with a list of books on it and starts to go around the room picking out books. After picking out several books, mostly law books covering wills, Mike goes to the large information desk positioned in the middle of the library. MIKE Do you have anything on cryonics? LIBRARIAN Le me check, hold on a minute. The LIBRARIAN types into her computer. LIBRARIAN Here we go. There are a few articles. The librarian hands Mike a sheet that came out of her printer. LIBRARIAN (pointing across room) Take this to the desk over there, the man will get them for you. MIKE Thanks. Mike walks across the library to the desk the librarian had pointed out. Mike gets behind a young women who is getting her own articles. When she is done Mike walks up to the man. MIKE (hands man the paper) She said you could get these for me. DESK MAN Sure, hold on. MIKE Thanks. The man leaves the desk and walks through a door behind him. When he returns he is carrying two magazines. DESK MAN Here you go. MIKE Thanks. Mike returns to his table, and sets his books and magazines down in front of him. HOLLY walks to MikeÕs table and sits down. HOLLY Hey busy boy, whatÕs up? MIKE (looking up) Nothing, working on a case for class, you? HOLLY Have a break, want a cigarette? MIKE Sure. Holly and Mike walk to the outside of the building. EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF SCHOOL DAY Mike and Holly stand on the concrete steps of the school library. Mike and Holly pull out cigarettes and each light their own. MIKE (taking drag) I think I might get frozen. HOLLY Oh yeah? MIKE This case, the man died and he had made arrangements to be frozen by ALCOR. HOLLY HeÕs probably severely self centered. MIKE IÕm self centered. HOLLY I believe I said severely. MIKE I donÕt know, it makes some sense to me. HOLLY You actually think heÕs coming back? MIKE Seems logical. HOLLY (putting out cigarette) Whatever, dinner tonight? MIKE Ya, IÕll cook. HOLLY IÕm done at 8, IÕm taking the trai so about 9? MIKE Perfect. Holly walks back inside. Mike continues smoking for a minute then puts it out on the steps and walks back inside school. INT. DE PAUL LAW LIBRARY DAY Mike walks over to his table and looks at his watch. He picks up his stuff and leaves the library. INT. CLASSROOM DAY Mike walks into a large auditorium filled with students. Mike sits down in the second to last row on the isle. MR. QUINLAN, a tall and bearded old man walks into the room from side door and stands in front of a podium in front of the classroom. MR. QUINLAN (setting papers on podium) Hope everyone had a good weekend, so lets get started. Law and religion. How do tey work together? Should they?ÉYou all probably think you know what you think about it. YouÕll be surprised that an opinion on this subject is hard to get a grip onÉanyone? CLASSMATE 1 TheyÕre totally separate things. They shouldnÕt have anything to do with each other at all. MR. QUINLAN The law is involved in everything. Do you honestly think that there should be an exception here simply because itÕs religion? CLASSMATE 1 WellÉ MR. QUINLAN IÕm not saying youÕre wrong. I just want you to think about it. CLASSMATE 2 There should be, religion is a personal choice and shouldnÕt be legislated or controlled by anything, especially the law. MR. QUINLAN Smoking is a personal choice to, but thatÕs regulatedÉand taxed. CLASSMATE 3 But smoking effects other people, religion doesnÕt. MR. QUINLAN Are you sure about that? MIKE Religion effects other people. The tax thing for example, churches donÕt pay tax. That effects me. CLASSMATE 3 Not really. CLASSMATE 2 It doesnÕt effect you enough to make a difference. MIKE Who are you to decide what makes a difference in my life or not? You have no idea. MR. QUINLAN Not to get off track here, but he brings up a good point. Who is to say what level of effect constitutes to much? ThereÕs the question. Anyway something to think about. I want a paper next week on your opinion on this, and back it up with some research please. ThatÕs it. Mr. Quinlan leaves the classroom. The students start to get up and leave. On the way out Mikes walks with Classmate 2. CLASSMATE 2 Now why couldnÕt he have told us that last week instead of having us come down here for two minutes? MIKE Yeah. CLASSMATE 2 So I take it you are not religious? MIKE Religion is just people worrying about death. CLASSMATE 2 And youÕre not worried? MIKE No, I am. But I try and put my faith into something a little more tangible. CLASSMATE 2 Like what? MIKE Like never dying. Mike and classmate come to hallway and pause. A young women approaches the two men. YOUNG WOMEN So whatÕs going on? CLASSMATE 2 Nothing. MIKE IÕm late, IÕll see you later. EXT. CITY STREET NEAR EL TRAIN DUSK Mike walks down street towards train stop. Mike walks into train stop and waits for train while man preaches the word of god to the passengers in waiting. While Mike waits he lights a cigarette. A POLICEMAN walks up to Mike while he smokes. POLICEMEN Young man. MIKE (throws out cig) Yeah. POLICEMAN You know that you can get a 200 dollar fine and be jailed for smoking on CTA property? MIKE Oh yeah? POLICEMAN Why donÕt you put it out. MIKE Already did. POLICEMAN Lets see your hands. Mike shows the officer his hands. POLICEMAN Alright. Policeman walks away. Train comes and Mike boards. INT. EL TRAIN DUSK Mike takes a seat and sits on the inside while watching the other passengers. Sitting at the other end of the train is an old man wearing a workers jumpsuit with a patch saying ÒMitchelÕs ManufacturingÓ. Mike leaves underground station through north exit. INT. MIKEÕS APARTMENT NIGHT Small and dark one bedroom apartment with stylish furniture and a fat cat named JESS sitting on a book in the corner. Mike walks into his apartment carrying his mail and sets down his bag while taking off his coat. Mike walks to his kitchen and puts down his mail while filling the catÕs food dish. There is a knock at the door and Mike walks to get it. MIKE (opening door) Hey. HOLLY (comes inside) Hi, dinner ready? MIKE (heads towards living room slowly) Just got home. HOLLY (follows) So what are you gonna do? MIKE Chinese? HOLLY Whatever. MIKE (sits down) You gonna call? HOLLY (sits down) You didnÕt cook, you call. MIKE You know I canÕt. HOLLY You have to get over that. MIKE Just call. HOLLY This is the last time. MIKE Fine. Mushu Pork please. IÕm buying. HOLLY Good. Pot stickers ok? MIKE Fine. Holly walks to kitchen and calls to MIKE. HOLLY (from kitchen) WhereÕs the number? MIKE Check the drawer. HOLLY What drawer? MIKE By the sink. Mike turns on the T.V., the news is on. Holly is in the kitchen talking to the restaurant. Holy come back into living room and sits next to Mike. MIKE How much? HOLLY 22. ItÕs going to be here in about 30 minutes. MIKE How was class? HOLLY So many stupid people out there, you know? MIKE Yeah, by the way, how was your date? HOLLY Good. MIKE Did you get laid? HOLLY (sarcastic) Of course, but enough of me. What did you learn today? MIKE There was this weird old guy on the train tonight. HOLLY Oh yeah? MIKE Yeah, must have been at least 70 or so, and he had on a workers outfit. HOLLY So? MIKE He was 70 and still working, seems just a little weird to me. HOLLY YouÕd be surprised. MIKE It kinda creeped me out. HOLLY (cocky) Oh yeah? MIKE Yeah. HOLLY Can I use your room? MIKE What for? HOLLY For privacy, I have work to do you know. MIKE DonÕt you have a room? Holly gets up and starts to go to MikeÕs bedroom. HOLLY Not as nice as yours. Mike watches television as Holly goes to his room. MIKE (yelling) Holly! HOLLY (from bedroom) What? MIKE (yelling) I go hassled by a cop for smoking at the stop today. HOLLY (from bedroom) Really? MIKE (yelling) Yup, itÕs intrusion after intrusion. Holly peaks out from bedroom. HOLLY Did you get a ticket? MIKE No. There is a knock at the door. MIKE Could you get that. Mike pulls his wallet out of his pocket. HOLLY You get it, I called. MIKE Just get it. Holly walks over and takes the money out of MikeÕs hand and goes and gets the food from the delivery man. HOLLY Did you take the train today? MIKE YesÉwell home at least. HOLLY (setting food down) WerenÕt to scared then I take it. DISSOLVE TO: INT. EL TRAIN DAY Mike walks between all the cars looking around and being disappointed. When finished he exits train into underground station. INT. MIKEÕS APARTMENT DAY Mike is standing while on the phone with Holly. MIKE He wasnÕt there. HOLLY Who? MIKE The guy on the train. HOLLY What are you talking about? MIKE The guy from yesterday, the old man, remember? HOLLY OhÉso? MIKE Well nothing, he just wasnÕt there. HOLLY And you expectedÉ? MIKE I just wanted to see him again. HOLLY Why? MIKE Curiosity. HOLLY Curious of what, some old man? MIKE His life must really suck. HOLLY You donÕt know that. MIKE Yes I do, heÕs 70 years old and still working. A failed life by my scales. HOLLY Life doesnÕt go by your scales. MIKE It does as far as IÕm concerned. What else matters besides my thoughts? HOLLY Others, maybe? MIKE Not to me. HOLLY So other peoples opinions donÕt matter then? MIKE If I do care about them, that makes them about me, thus important. But other than that they donÕt. HOLLY Just a little asshole like are we today? MIKE Always. HOLLY Well asshole IÕm going to let you go. MIKE Ok, IÕll see you later. INT. DE PAUL LAW LIBRARY Mike sits at a table in the back corner of the library, surrounded by books and ALCOR information. Holly walks up to the table and stands next to Mike, looking over his shoulder. HOLLY (rubbing MikeÕs shoulder) I thought you were done with this? MIKE I am. HOLLY ThenÉwhat are you doing? MIKE IÕm just checking the validity of this stuff. What are you doing here? HOLLY I was at your apartment today. MIKE Yeah. HOLLY Well Jess got out and she got hit. MIKE Hit? HOLLY SheÕs dead. MIKE Fuck, how did she get out? HOLLY Your landlord was over earlier. You ok? MIKE IÕll be fine. HOLLY Well to get over it, do you want to go out with me tonight? MIKE Where? HOLLY The bar. MIKE Do I have to? HOLLY Yes. MIKE Alright then. INT. MIKEÕS APARTMENT DAY Mike walks into his apartment with his mail in his hands. One of the pieces is a big white envelope with the word ALCOR typed in the upper left corner. Mike places his mail, including the envelope into a large pile of mail on a side table. Mike goes into the kitchen without taking his coat off. He goes into the freezer and pulls out a heavy black trash bag. Mike places the cat food in the bag and leaves his apartment. EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF APARTMENT DAY Mike walks to the back of his building and throws the black trash bag into a dumpster. Mike then proceeds to walk to the local corner store. INT. CORNER STORE DAY Mike walks into brightly lit corner store and walks up to counter. MIKE Two packs of Lucky Strikes. The clerk pulls two packs of cigarettes from above his head and hands them to Mike. Clerk 10.30 please. Mike pays the man and the clerk hands him his change. MIKE Thanks. FADE OUT: Roll credits.