DYLAN: I can’t believe you came all this way to check up on me.
HELEN: Dylan, I am your mother. I care about what happens to you.
DYLAN: Mom, you have to trust me. I’m a big girl now. I can take care of myself.
HELEN: Okay. A change of subject then. (beat) Tell me about your job.
DYLAN: Well, um, I’m an assistant marketing associate.
HELEN: So, what are your responsibilities?
Helen pokes at her salad.
DYLAN: I have to review reports filed by consultants.
HELEN: Then what?
DYLAN (losing confidence): Then I have to write evaluations.
Helen stares disapprovingly.
DYLAN (CONT’D): Then we have meetings to discuss the reports and evaluations.
Helen annoyingly clicks her spoon on her wineglass.
DYLAN (CONT’D): Then we discuss clients… their needs and their accounts.
HELEN: Have you met any nice men?
DYLAN: Momma.
HELEN: There are so many beautiful men in this city. You haven’t met anyone you like?
DYLAN: There is someone.
Helen smiles.
DYLAN (CONT’D): But they want too much from me.
Helen, thinking of herself, turns up the motherly charm.
HELEN: My darling little Dylan, let’s not forget the number one lesson. When you find a man who’s in love with you, you have to be flexible. Give into their wishes every once in a while. It can’t all be always about you.
As Helen proceeds to dump improvised motherly advice on her, Dylan thinks she sees Claude/ia at the bar.
HELEN (CONT’D): Don’t throw love out the window.
INSERT – CLAUDE/IA AT THE BAR
They turn their face toward the camera and it’s someone else.
BACK TO SCENE
HELEN (looks to the bar): What are you looking at?
DYLAN: Nothing.
CUT TO:
SERIES OF SHOTS: A) Dylan reflective and on the verge of a breakdown in her apartment, kicks Teo and X out the door. She looks sad and disjointed; B) Helen reflective and on the verge while at a museum (sees older couples in love); C) Claudia alone at work, takes out her mustache. She stares at it then tosses it to the ground.
EXT. BERLIN STREET – NIGHT
Dylan huffs down the street in a leopard pants suit. She’s a hot mess. She stomps up to the door of the club and enters.
INT. SEX CLUB – NIGHT
Dylan looks around the room for Claudia and runs straight into Ocean.
OCEAN: Dylan.
DYLAN (defensive): Do I know you?
OCEAN: What matters is that I know you. I am the Master here. And your pleasure is at my bidding. So shut the fuck up.
DYLAN: Okay.
He leads her into the central room.
OCEAN: Spirits?
DYLAN: I don’t need a drink. What I need is a distraction. Where is the action at?
OCEAN: What are you looking for?
Dylan scans the room again.
DYLAN: Trouble.
OCEAN: I can’t hear you. Speak up girl. You want trouble?
DYLAN: Yeah.
Ocean leads Dylan to a doorway. Teo and X are having a rough scene. X is about to tie Teo up and Dylan pushes her way into the room. She looks X dead in the eyes and sticks her hands out.
INT. SEX ROOM AT THE BAR – MOMENTS LATER
Dylan and X play out a rough sex scene. Dylan is forced to give head and gags on dildo/cock, et cetera. Dylan tries to “top from the bottom” but never really gets the upper hand. Ball-gagged, she gets fucked with a dildo, really rough and heartlessly.
INT. SEX ROOM – LATER
Spent, Dylan is alone. She takes out her phone. Sends a text to Helen.
INSERT – DYLAN’S MOBILE
Mommy, I need to see you. Where are you? She deletes the word Mommy and types in Claudia. Hits SEND.
INT. HOTEL ROOM – EVENING
Helen lies next to Claude/ia. The two are fully dressed. Both stare at the ceiling.
HELEN: Let me touch you. You won’t let me touch you.
CLAUDE/IA: Not tonight. Lets just lie next to each other.
HELEN: This is not how I want to spend our last night together.
CLAUDE/IA (sitting up): You’re leaving?
HELEN: I need to work things out at home. My husband and I have to talk. And my daughter… well, I don’t know if she’s going to be all right but I have to let her go.
Claude/ia tenses up.
HELEN (CONT’D): But let’s forget all of my drama and get into a little of it here and now. (beat) I want to suck that sweet cock of yours then have you bring it deep inside me.
Helen kisses him long and softly. So soft that he melts a little.
CLAUDE/IA: Really?
HELEN (dreamy): Yeah.
Claude/ia pulls away.
Forgot the dildo.
CLAUDE/IA: How about I fuck first then drinking… I mean a drink first and then fucking.
HELEN (confused): What?
Claude/ia leaps out of bed.
CLAUDE/IA: Remember I’m a charmer. I’ll be right back with the champagne.
She runs out of the room.
SERIES OF SHOTS: A) Claude/ia runs past Jay at front desk. B) Claude/ia grabs bag with sex toys from back room.
CLAUDE/IA: (to self) Strap-on, lube, condom, all there.
C) Claude/ia searches through wine rack for a bottle of champagne.
EXT. CURBSIDE HOTEL PANORAMA – SAME
Cabby rolls up to the curb. Dylan and Teo are in back, Dylan has a faraway, pensive look on her face.
TEO: Now what’s wrong? Aren’t we going to Kate’s party? X will be there.
DYLAN: I’ll only be a second. Come on.
She hands over the fare and Dylan and Teo exit. Dylan’s wallet falls to the floor of the cab.
INT. LOBBY, HOTEL PANORAMA- CONTINUOUS
DYLAN: Five minutes.
Dylan walks off. Teo gives a pissed look and flops down in a chair in the hotel lobby. Teo takes out her mobile and starts to text. Jay walks through the hotel lobby. He notices Teo. What a beauty.
JAY: Hello.
Jay smiles at her and Teo smiles at Jay.
INT. ELEVATOR – HOTEL PANORAMA – CONTINUOUS
Claude/ia anxiously pushes at the buttons. Dylan approaches.
DYLAN: Claudia…? What are you done up like that for?
CLAUDE/IA: Ahhh… Jay. He’s taking me out to a…
DYLAN (disappointed): Sex club?
CLAUDE/IA: Right.
DYLAN: Forget Jay and the club, you look hot. Let’s go to a room and make love. You got my texts, right?
CLAUDE/IA: Of course. Of course.
INSERT – CLAUDIA’S MOBILE PHONE
On night table next to Helen.
INT. LOBBY – HOTEL PANORAMA – CONTINUOUS
JAY: Everything okay?
TEO: Just trying to solve all my problems at once.
JAY: Maybe I can help. What’s on your mind?
TEO (rapid): Like I really love being a sex worker but it is also kind of boring and depressing, but it’s okay and you know, good… sometimes. I mean what is love anyway? I mean I want to live with someone, but then I was thinking about having a baby, but I really want to be alone… you know? Like I really want to be an actress, but maybe I should go back to school but who wants to do that, right? Or maybe something else, right?
JAY: Absolutely.
TEO: I used to know what I want but lately I have no idea what I want anymore. I’m so confused, but that’s okay, isn’t it?
Jay’s in love. He turns to the CAMERA and smiles.
TEO (CONT’D): I can’t stand commitment but I want stability… (a beat)
They exchange looks of meaningful connection. Jay takes Teo’s hand and they kiss. Or INSERT a flash scene of them fucking.