Favors

Favors

INT. DANIEL'S CAR - NIGHT

DANIEL, a clean-cut 30-year-old man with nervous energy, sits in a parked car, repeatedly checking the time on his phone. It is 8:54. He navigates to a dating app, landing on a messaging conversation with a woman named ZARA. Her most recent message reads, "See ya at 9!"

On her profile, Zara calls herself a "proud cat mom," the phrase adorned with various emojis. Daniel looks warmly at a picture of her and her cat wearing birthday hats.

BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. DANIEL'S APARTMENT - DAY

Daniel, on his laptop the day before, scrolls through a list of 10 Trendy Bars in LA, clicking on a cat-themed option called Feral, which shows an average rating of 4.89 stars. Daniel pulls out his phone and writes a message.

DANIEL (TEXT)
There's a cat-themed bar called

Feral in Little Armenia (next message)

Sorta goofy I guess...

ZARA (TEXT)
Wait oh my god how have I not heard

of this??
Daniel looks pleased with himself.

END FLASHBACK.

INT. DANIEL'S CAR - NIGHT

Daniel looks terrified. He checks the time again, 8:57, then navigates to the Maps app on his phone. It says it will take 3 minutes to walk to the bar from his parking spot. He takes a deep, meditative breath. He grips the gear shift. Then he checks the time again. 8:58. His eyes widen with worry. He rushes out of the car, power-walking down the block.

INT. BAR - NIGHT

Daniel enters the bar huffing and puffing, accidentally getting caught in a beaded curtain in the doorway. When he finally extricates himself from the beads, he looks around the bar.

The crowd consists entirely of young, well-dressed, up-and- coming professionals. He takes a quick lap around the space, noticing a series of movie posters over the booths, the actors all replaced by cats, the titles turned into puns. The Clawshank Redemption, Purrasic Park, Spaying Private Ryan...but no Zara. There are two empty stools at the end of the bar. Daniel parks himself in the far corner, staring back at the doorway. A cat-shaped clock on the wall reads 9:03.

BARTENDER What can I get ya?

Daniel scans the menu.

DANIEL
Um...what do you recommend?

BARTENDER
You ever been here before?

Daniel shakes his head.

BARTENDER (CONT'D) Gotta go for the Meowjito then.

That's the classic.

DANIEL Meowjito it is.

As the bartender starts making the drink, a hand lands on Daniel's shoulder. He lifts his eyes to find JONATHAN, a broad-shouldered man around his same age, standing over him.

JONATHAN
Hey man. Any chance you could do me

a huge favor?
Daniel looks suspicious but intrigued.

DANIEL
I don't know. I guess that depends

how huge the favor is.
Jonathan smiles and reaches out for a handshake.

JONATHAN
I'm Jonathan, by the way. How rude

of me not to introduce myself.

They shake, Jonathan clearly gripping harder, making eye contact.

2.

DANIEL
That's alright. I'm Daniel.

(awkwardly) Pleasure to meet you.

JONATHAN
Good to meet cha, too. Anyway,

here’s the deal. I have a Tinder date coming here at 9:15. A first date. And I was wondering...

Jonathan hesitates, his confidence suddenly evaporating. He looks down and rubs the back of his neck.

JONATHAN (CONT'D)
I was wondering if you could come over at some point and, like, say hi, as if we were old friends who

hadn't seen each other in a while. Like, maybe you could tell me that you've been meaning to reach out but that things have gotten really busy at work lately. I don't know. Something like that.

Daniel squints at Jonathan, confused.

JONATHAN (CONT'D)
And then you could offer, for old

time's sake, to buy us both a drink. Me and my date, that is. Oh, here.

Jonathan takes out his wallet and offers Daniel thirty bucks. Daniel's eyes sweep the floor.

DANIEL Interesting.

Jonathan, waiting for an answer, slides his hands into his front pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels. Daniel gathers his thoughts.

DANIEL (CONT'D) (slightly exasperated, as if finally letting out a torrent of thoughts that had been tormenting him)

(MORE)

3.

DANIEL (CONT'D)
Well the thing is I'm actually

waiting on a date right now too and she was supposed to get here at 9 and I had been waiting in my car for like ten minutes wondering if it would seem uncool if I got here early or if it would seem inconsiderate if I got here late so in the end I decided to try to get here exactly at 9, but that didn't really matter in the end cause now since she's late--or I guess I shouldn't even use the word "late" since it's only like a few minutes after 9 and other people probably don't think as much about this stuff as I do...

Jonathan's face softens, as if he finds this monologue endearing. Daniel checks his phone

flustered again.

DANIEL (CONT'D)
But anyway, what I'm saying is that

I'm worried she'll get here any second and I won't be able to execute your plan, or that she'll get here during it and then I'll have to explain the whole thing, or lie to her, and, and...I don't know. No offense, but I don't know if I wanna do that. What I'm trying to say is, I really don't know whether or not I'm the right person do this...um, this favor.

Daniel ends his monologue slightly out of breath. Jonathan gives an understanding nod, rubbing his chin.

JONATHAN How about this?

Jonathan places the money in Daniels' hand, curling his fingers around the two bills.

JONATHAN (CONT'D) Just hold on to this and think

about it. If the timing doesn't work out, or if it seems weird to you, then feel free to just back out and leave the money under a candle holder. No harm, no foul.

4.

They both turn their heads to a litter-box-shaped candle holder a few feet down the bar. The bartender returns with Daniel's Meowjito.

BARTENDER That'll be 12.

Daniel winces at the price and hands over his debit card.

JONATHAN Honestly, I'm kind of too

embarrassed to ask anyone else at this point. So...um, yeah, if you decide you've got an extra minute and you want to do a favor for a dumb schmuck who doesn't have too many friends in LA, then feel free head over when she gets here, alright?

Daniel lifts his eyes to Jonathan's. They hold each other's gaze.

JONATHAN (CONT'D)
But, yeah, if your date gets here in a minute or if you just decide

against it, don't worry about it. Really.

Jonathan pats Daniel's shoulder and walks back over to the other side of the bar, leaving Daniel staring at the beaded curtain in the doorway. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

FADE TO BLACK.

INT. BAR - NIGHT (A FEW MINUTES LATER)

A woman who is not Zara parts the beaded curtain in the doorway. She lights up, recognizing Jonathan. They greet each other with an awkward hips-out hug. Daniel checks the cat- shaped clock on the wall. It reads 9:13. He looks at Jonathan, then at the doorway, then back at the clock again. His knee is bouncing up and down on the bar stool.

Finally he stands up and walks through the crowd of stylish up-and-coming professionals, feeling for the money in his back pocket.

5.

DANIEL
(trying to feign surprise,

though he's not a very

good actor) Jonathan?!

JONATHAN (attempting to mirror

Daniel's shock)
Hey! Daniel! Long time no see, buddy.

Jonathan reaches out to perform a complex handshake that Daniel is not ready for. Daniel lets his hand go limp as Jonathan maneuvers around it with a series of awkward fumbling moves.

JONATHAN (CONT'D) (enthusiastic)

So how have you been?

DANIEL
Oh, you know, same old. How about

you?
Daniel pats Jonathan's shoulder as he asks this.

JONATHAN
Super busy, like crazy busy with

work, and, just, like, with everything else these past couple months. But we should hang soon!

DANIEL That'd be great!

Jonathan turns toward his date.

JONATHAN
By the way, this is Kate.

Daniel reaches out for a handshake.

DANIEL
rude of me not to introduce I'm Daniel.

Oh, how myself.

They shake hands.

Nice to
Daniel cocks his head back, as if suddenly struck by an idea.

KATE meet you.

6.

DANIEL
You know what? Why don't I buy you

two a drink?

JONATHAN
Oh no, you're too kind.

DANIEL
No, please. Let me get you a round

of Meowjitos.
Daniel motions to the bartender.

JONATHAN Well, if you insist...

KATE (cutting in)

Actually, I'm good right now.
Jonathan and Daniel look at each other confused.

KATE (CONT'D) Thanks for the offer though.

DANIEL (unsure of himself)

You sure? I haven't been here before, but--

KATE (frustrated)

I said I'm alright right now. Daniel eyes Jonathan.

DANIEL
Sorry, yeah. Of course. I didn't

mean to--

KATE It's fine.

A silence rises between them. Jonathan scratches the space behind his ear. Daniel turns his head, staring at the Clawshank Redemption poster.

JONATHAN
Well, buddy, it was nice seeing

you. Let's try to find a time to catch up soon.

Jonathan reaches out for another elaborate handshake. Daniel offers his fist for a bump.

7.

Jonathan doesn't quite adjust in time and closes his full hand around Daniel’s fist. They hold this fist-shake embrace for a moment, wagging it up and down, smiling at each other and then at Kate, as if this is a purposeful inside joke between them. She doesn't smile back.

Daniel arrives at his stool again on the opposite end of the bar at 9:21 and sips his Meowjito. He sits alone, watching Jonathan and Kate labor to make conversation.

At 9:24, he checks his phone one last time, finishes his drink, and pushes out his stool to leave.

EXT. DANIEL'S CAR - NIGHT

Daniel sits in the passenger's seat before driving home, staring at himself in the rearview mirror. He flips one last time through Zara's Tinder profile, and finally unmatches her.

INT. VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE - DAY

Weeks later, Daniel is sifting through a rack of sweaters at a vintage clothing store. He holds certain items up against his body in the mirror on the wall, looking confused as to whether or not he can pull off the style.

Back at the rack, he lifts his head from a sweater and sees Jonathan on the other side, staring up at him in surprise from the next aisle over.

JONATHAN
(as if already mid-

conversation) She was sober.

It takes Daniel a moment to remember who this man is, and then to remember what he's referring to.

DANIEL
Why were you two meeting at a bar

then?

JONATHAN
I’d suggested it. She said she

doesn't like to make a big deal about her sobriety. Supposedly she's comfortable having a soda on a date these days, as long as no one is pressuring her to drink.

Jonathan delivers that last line with appropriate regret.

8.

DANIEL I'm sorry.

Jonathan shakes his head, waving a hand in the air.

JONATHAN
No, no, it wasn't your fault. Not

at all. In fact, I thought you did pretty well.

Daniel nods. Jonathan sticks his hands in his pockets and clears his throat. Daniel looks back down at the rack of clothing, not sure what to say next.

JONATHAN (CONT'D)
I know it didn't work out last

time, but maybe we could still try to help each other out.

DANIEL Help each other out?

Jonathan shrugs.

JONATHAN
Yeah, you know...like, favors.

Though there is no malice in his voice, Daniel looks at Jonathan with suspicion.

JONATHAN (CONT'D) All this...

Jonathan looks up at the ceiling, not indicating anything in particular.

JONATHAN (CONT'D) It's just so tough out there.

Daniel nods.

DANIEL
True, yeah...just impossible

sometimes.

JONATHAN (lighting up)

Right? But I think it could be easier as...as a team.

DANIEL (skeptical)

Makes sense.

9.

Jonathan’s eyes widen. He looks thrilled to commiserate.

DANIEL (CONT'D)
But what do you have in mind?

JONATHAN
Anything. Anything and everything.

DANIEL
Like what? Like dating stuff?

JONATHAN
No no, not just dating. Like

anything. There's gotta be other stuff that keeps you up at night, right?

A thought flashes through Daniel's eyes when he hears the phrase, keeps you up at night.

DANIEL (hesitant)

Yeah...

Jonathan cycles his hand in the air, encouraging Daniel to explain further.

JONATHAN Like...?

Daniel scrutinizes Jonathan, who smiles back at him.

DANIEL
(hesitant at first, but

once he gets going the

words pour out)
I, I... I don’t think my dad respects me. Or, I mean, I don't think he respects the work I do. Growing up, he was constantly dropping hints that I should become a doctor. He would watch me cut up a chicken breast at dinner and tell me I had the hands of a surgeon. So of course I entered college pre-med without even thinking about it, as if that were the only option. And then, years later, in the first few months of medical school, I got really into sleep science. I'm an insomniac, so I started reading everything I could find about sleep, while I couldn't sleep.