Concrete - A Short Screenplay by Tiago R. Santos (c) all rights reserved

EXT. NEW YORK STREET – DAWN

It’s the end of a long night. LEO, a guy in his late twenties, walks alone. He returns home after several hours of drinking and dancing.

If the New York streets could ever be quiet for a minute, this would be it. There’s a sense of serenity.

Leo stops and lights a cigarette. His pack, kept in his pocket, is crushed and it’s a miracle the cigarettes survived. This particular one makes a swerve to the right.

Then, out of nothing, SAM runs pass him. Sam is a guy in his thirties, dressed in black. He seems to be running randomly, in no particular direction.

LEO
Hey!

Sam keeps running.

LEO
Hey! Sammy!

Sam stops and looks back.

SAM
Jesus, Leo?

LEO
Sammy! What—

Sam runs back in Leo’s direction. They hand-shake.

LEO
How the hell are you? It’s been--

SAM
I’m good, Leo-—

LEO
What are you doing running around? You’re in a hurry?

SAM
Oh, you know. Where are you going Leo?

LEO
It’s seven o’clock in the morning, man. I’m going home.

SAM
Can I walk with you Leo?

LEO
I-- Sure.

They both start walking.

SAM
Hey, Leo, do you have a cigarette?

Leo gives Sam a cigarette. This one goes upwards, like an arrow pointing toward the stars.

LEO
How have you been man? I haven’t seen you since—

Leo seems worried for a brief moment.

SAM
Yeah, since them hum, Leo?

LEO
Are you alright? I mean-- better?

Sam jumps, a sudden movement. Leo is startled.

SAM
Oh man, you know what? Leo, I wanna show you something!

LEO
What? Hey, it’s nice to see you and all but my ass is going home.

SAM
It’s right there. It’s gonna blow you away, I swear to God. It’s right there Leo!

Sam grabs Leo’s arm and drags him to a sidewalk. He points to a perfectly normal square of concrete, nothing different about it.

SAM
What to you think Leo?

LEO
What do I think about what?

SAM
Leo, you haven’t even looked at it.

LEO
Looked at what? It’s the fucking sidewalk! It’s pavement! Sammy, are you sure you’re okay?

Sam insists. He points to the piece of sidewalk again. Leo looks at it.

LEO (CONT'D)
I don’t know what the fuck you saying.

SAM
This is between me and you Leo. I don’t want people to know. Let’s not create a tourist attraction here, all right? This is ours. Newyorkers only.

Sam gets on his knees.

LEO
What--

Sam lies down. His head is perfectly framed in that grey square. Sam pushes his ear against the sidewalk.

LEO
It’s been almost two years, Sam. You’re still fucking crazy. You have to let it go man. Jesus Christ. What the fuck--

SAM
I can’t explain it Leo. I don’t want to, either. But lean your head, let your ear touch the street, and New York will speak to you. It has to be right here. This spot. I tried in other places, other sidewalk squares, but it never worked. It’s here.

Sam closes his eyes and smiles.

SAM (CONT’D)
The birds in Central Park. Cab drivers talking on the cell phone. Store managers releasing the gates on Madison Avenue. Drunks returning home, mumbling. A baby girl waking up with a good cry at 108 East, 97th street, apartment 5E. A boy confessing his eternal love to a girl. Smokers inhaling, Pakistani Deli workers spraying water on roses, the sighs of those who fall asleep crying. It’s all here, man. It’s all here.

Sam gets up. Leo just looks at him. Sam starts running again.

SAM
Right. Have to go Leo.

LEO
Where--

SAM
Two Swedish students trying to get around the subway lines. A job for yours truly, Leo.

LEO
You crazy--

Sam runs off and disappears in a corner. Leo looks down at the sidewalk. Then, slowly, he starts to get down. First, he puts his knees on the concrete. Then, always slowly, he places his hands in the ground and lowers his head. His ear touches the sidewalk.

Leo stands there for a couple of seconds. He looks rather stupid, in all fours with his ear leaned against the sidewalk.

Leo smiles.

LEO
Motherfucker.