A
GIRL walks down a road. She is wearing a
gray, wool coat and a gray stocking hat.
Her head hangs down and she hustles, as if she knows where she’s going
and wants no distractions in getting there.
The sky is overcast and there are puddles on the ground. Cars pass her by.
As
she’s walking, people hustle past her.
There is a COUPLE walking slowly in front of her, walking
side-by-side. She can not pass them to
continue her hurried pace without stepping into the busy street. The Girl considers it, but a car whizzes by
just then, splashing water on her, missing the Couple.
The
couple is middle-aged and the woman is very obviously pregnant.
MAN
Let’s
paint the nursery blue. Blue can be a
nice neutral color. It could be for a
girl or a boy. When Baby is born, we can
put up trim accordingly.
WOMAN
I
don’t like blue. It’s so cold and
Arctic. First impressions can leave
lasting impressions on infants. What if
Baby turns into an emotionally distant person because we chose to paint its
room blue.
MAN
Don’t
be ridiculous.
WOMAN
I’m
just saying.
The
Girl can’t hurry past, so she is forced to walk behind them. She walks slowly, and begins listening to the
Couple. She smiles to herself, listening
to the Couple talk about natal plans.
MAN
Well,
what color do you suggest, then?
WOMAN
I
don’t know. How about an off-white?
MAN
How
is that any less cold than blue?
Besides, it’s boring.
The
Couple step around the feet of a Bum.
The Girl looks over at the Bum and a moment of connection is sensed
between them. She tosses a dollar into
his cup. Just then, someone shoves past
the Girl, almost knocking her down.
As
the SHOVER comes to the Couple, they look over at them, seeing the woman’s
extended belly, and smile at the Couple.
The Shover stops, and chats with the Couple a moment before moving
on.
The
Girl is locked behind the small group.
She once considers stepping into the street in order to pass them, even
walking over to it, but another car shoots by.
Because she’s so close, she has to jump back.
SHOVER
When
are you due?
The
man pats the woman’s belly.
MAN
Just
next month.
SHOVER
Wow. That soon?
Are you all ready?
WOMAN
Mostly. We’re still putting the nursery together,
though. Right now, we’re arguing about
what color to paint it.
SHOVER
Do
you know what you’re having yet?
MAN
No. We want it to be a surprise.
The
Girl hops impatiently from one foot to the other.
SHOVER
Well,
I’ve heard bright colors help increase brain activity in babies. Good luck.
MAN
Thanks.
The
Shover walks on, and the Couple continues.
This allows the Girl to continue as well, although at a much slower pace
than she’d prefer. She checks her watch.
WOMAN
Well,
we could try red. That’s bright.
MAN
That’d
make the room look like Heck.
A
piece of sheet glass is carried by two workers just in front of the Girl and
just behind the Couple. The Girl shakes
her head in disbelief at the absurdity of the situation. She glances at her watch.
A
shaft of sunlight penetrates the clouds and shines through the glass just as
she’s looking at her watch. For a
moment, it looks like it shines through her hand as well, which has gone
transparent. She shakes her head to
clear it, and her hand is once again normal.
The
glass finally passes, and she starts rushing again. She immediately catches up with the Couple,
who have been traveling at a leisurely pace.
They are at a crosswalk, which the Girl is also waiting to cross.
The
light turns, and the couple begin crossing the street. The girl follows.
MAN
So
it’s agreed. We’ll paint the room bright
blue and put primary colored, geometric shapes in the trim.
WOMAN
Agreed.
A
car comes screeching around the corner.
The Couple looks behind them, and the Girl looks too. It’s headed right for her. She is frozen in fear.
The
car hits its brakes, but it’s too late.
The Girl is thrown through the air.
She lands.
The
couple rushes toward her, and the woman squats awkwardly next to her with a
concerned look on her face. The DRIVER
of the car runs toward them. The man
hovers over his wife’s shoulder.
The
Girl has blood coming out of her mouth, which is moving soundlessly. It stops moving and her eyes lose focus. The Girl is dead.
The
Driver is panicking.
DRIVER
Oh
my god. I can’t believe it. I didn’t see her at all. I didn’t see her. She just came out of nowhere. Didn’t she?
Didn’t she just come out of nowhere.
The
Couple nods, then looks down at the body.
MAN
Didn’t
see her at all. She just came out of
nowhere.
The
Girl’s body is gone, and a random shaft of light shines on the spot where it
once was.