The shop window of an incredibly expensive-looking MANICURE&HAIR SALON
Same shop, front door. The door opens and a woman, Gwen Horowitz, steps out of the salon. She is in her early thirties and has obviously just gotten her hair done. She is wearing big sunglasses, also an elegant, knee-long, dark-green dress; she is holding a leather dog leash in her right hand; the leash is attached to a small brown-white terrier. In her left hand she is carrying a rather big Louis Vuitton bag of older style. She carries herself with the air of somebody who knows they can afford almost anything and who is acutely aware that this sets her apart from most other people around her. She gets into the back seat of a black, new Jaguar that is waiting in front of the salon. The car has darkened windows in the back.
INT. THE CAR -- BACK SEAT -- MOMENTS LATER
The dog is on Gwen's legs. Next to her and behind the driver's seat we see many bags of various sizes with the labels of well-known and expensive designers and brands, also men's. Through the window we can see that the car is moving. The woman just sits there, strokes the dog, and stares blankly at the back of the front seat. A cell phone rings. She fumbles with her purse, takes out a tiny cell phone and answers expressionless.
GWEN
Yes?
She listens, then
I'm almost done, honey.
I hope I'll be home in about (she looks at her small silver watch) 90 minutes.
Listens again, still expressionless, then
Already picked them up.
Listens
At 8. Tonight.
Try to be home by 7, will you?
Listens
No, that's the day after tomorrow.
Listens, then with slight impatience in her voice, but not in her demeanor
No, that's tomorrow.
Look, just try to be home by 7, okay?
I'll let Cleo take a walk in the park and then I'll head straight home, too.
Listens, now clearly expressing exasperation through her tone, but not in her demeanor
Just try, alright? Thanks. Okay bye.
She hangs up and continues to stare blankly at the back of the front seat while stroking the dog.
EXT. A PARK -- A LITTLE LATER -- SUNSHINE
Overhead view of the park. It is neatly arranged with bushes and lawn between paths. We descend towards Gwen as she is walking slowly along a path, looking down. The small dog is running excitedly across the lawn, in and out of our view, without the leash, sniffing here and there, peeing somewhere. Gwen looks up, walks over to the lawn.
EXT. THE PARK -- GWEN'S POV -- DAY
We see several people alone or in small groups sitting on the lawn, talking, having a picnic, or reading. It is a merry, quiet, peaceful sight.
EXT. THE PARK -- DAY
Gwen slowly walks across the lawn, looking down again. She hesitates, then leans down, and takes off her high-heeled sandals. She resumes walking, barefooted now, still looking down. She walks unsteadily at first, as if not being used to walking without heels.
EXT. THE PARK -- GWEN'S POV -- DAY
Slow motion: We see her neatly pedicured feet, how they touch the grass, how her toes spread to feel as much of the grass as possible. The feet stop walking; the toes grab a bit of grass and rip it off the ground. The toes relax and let the grass fall on the lawn.
EXT. THE PARK -- DAY
Gwen's face is still without expression as she reaches the end of the lawn and continues walking barefooted on the path. The dog runs across the path to a bench on a small grass area nearby. The woman looks towards the bench.
EXT. THE PARK -- GWEN'S POV
We see something beneath the bench. We approach the bench, zoom down to figure out what we are seeing and walk around the bench to the back. There we see it is a woman, Meg, sleeping underneath the bench in bright sunshine. She is not dressed as immaculately as the other people in the park but also not as we expect a homeless person to be dressed. Her age can't be told because she has her long hair covering her face.
EXT. THE PARK -- DAY
Gwen is standing above the sleeping Meg. She hesitates, then crouches next to Meg, hesitates again, tries to brush the hair ou of Meg's face. Meg stirs, opens her eyes, and looks at Gwen. Gwen sees that Meg can't be oder than 40. Both women don't say anything, just look at each other for a moment.
EXT. THE PARK -- GWEN'S POV
We see Meg's face. There is neither make-up there nor dirt; big, sleepy, green eyes look at us; her forehead is rather big; she has round cheeks, a small mouth with small lips. Her face doesn't seem to be that of a homeless person.
EXT. THE PARK -- MEG'S POV
We see Gwen's face. It is carefully decorated: light eye shadow that fits the light grey color of her eyes; moderately applied black eyeliner; long, black eyelashes; a hint of rouge; unobtrusive red lipstick. It's perfect, perfectly moderate, and it doesn't seem to be meant to express emotion; and Gwen still doesn't.
GWEN
I wonder what it's like (she hesitates, we can't be sure why) to have no responsibility.
EXT. THE PARK -- GWEN'S POV -- CONTINUED
We see Meg's face, same as before, but now with the slightest smile around the corners of her mouth which has not yet reached the eyes
MEG
Remember being a child.
EXT. THE PARK -- MEG'S POV -- CONTINUED
We see Gwen's face, still expressionless
GWEN
I never was one.
MEG (o. c.)
Image being one.
Gwen looks at us imploringly for a beat, slightly frowning. Then her face relaxes.
EXT. THE PARK -- DAY -- CONTINUED
We see Gwen first kneel down, then lie down next to Meg, facing her. The dog comes running, takes a sniff at the two women, and runs off.
EXT. THE PARK -- GWEN'S POV
We see Meg's face. The smile from before has now reached her eyes, yet is still very slight. It weakens as we
DISSOLVE TO
EXT. THE PARK -- MEG'S POV
We see Gwen's face now, not as blank as before, but somehow relaxed, soft. She closes her eyes and we
FADE OUT
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