INT. -- BROOKLYN APARTMENT -- DAY

Yacobe an average guy wakes up and hobbles into the kitchen then opens the freezer. He pulls out a bag of ice and begins to break it up with the handle of a knife.

YACOBE V.O.

I wish I could say this is one of those great New York stories about struggling artist that gets his big break. Unfortunately the majority of this story will not even take place in New York.

Yacobe take the bag of ice into his room and lays down on his bed propping up his foot. He puts the bag of ice on his foot.

YACOBE V.O.

I don’t even think this is going to be a happy story. I don’t know it might. I’m just saying I don’t think it has alot of potential to be so you might want to stop listening now if I’ve already started to bore you.

Yacobe gets up from his bed then room as he opens the apartment door he looks around before hobbling to a ladder leading up to a latched door to the roof.

YACOBE V.O.

This is where lose you.

He pulls himself up the ladder slowly then looks down at the long fall and imagines possibly slipping. He opens the door and crawls up to the roof.

YACOBE

Finally I can stop talking in voice over.

YACOBE

Most people believe that they are capable of doing anything. The world is there oyster and mind an pearl.

Yacobe walks to the edge of the roof.

YACOBE

I’m not that sure of myself. This world seems more like a mad clam than an oyster. My mind right now can’t stop thinking about the ultimate doom that lies ahead.

Yacobe looks out at the New York skyline then down at the street.

YACOBE

I can imagine myself in the window of some sky scaper on black friday thinking I’m worth more dead than alive. Those guys did’nt care whether they lived or died they just knew everything of monetary value to them was gone. They had lost all their assets and that was enough to decide life was not worth living. I cant help but think just maybe they jumped becuase they could’nt bare the thought of not beign able to support their family.

YACOBE

If I cared that much about money I’d already jump.

Yacobe backs away from the edge of the roof.

YACOBE

I’m too big of a pussy to ever kill myself. Being broke is just a fact of life for me. I’ve been in New York now for a year living paycheck to paycheck busting tables and bringing rich Italians their food before the gourmet microwaved plate cools off. I do that all for this.

Yacobe looks on at the skyline.

YACOBE

The city of New York. A place of dreams and the meca of our civilization. I came here to sale a screenplay. Now I’ll just settle for getting laid. The perfume women wear on the subway now is more erotic than ever. I keep my head down most of the time but every now and then a woman will sit beside me with some kind of dark rich scent that makes my stomach grown and I imagine getting to know her on some whisicle reason then letting everyone of my words caress her lusting thoughts.

INT. -- YACOBE’S ROOM -- DAY

Yacobe is on his laptop looking at porn as his blanket moves up and down.

YACOBE V.O.

Usually this is the part in the script where I start to grab your attention and reveal some of the plot.

Yacobe becomes relaxed and lays his head back.

YACOBE

Yeah back to what I was talking about most of this story doesn't even take place in New York.

EXT. -- LAGUARDIA AIRPORT QUEENS NEW YORK -- DAY

A plane takes off. Yacobe looks at the line of people in front of him checking their luggage.

INT. -- PLANE -- DAY

Yacobe walks up to his assigned seat. Yacobe looks at a woman holding a baby and her adolescent daughter sitting beside her.

YACOBE

I believe that is my seat.

ADOLESCENT DAUGHTER

Can you sit somewhere else.

YACOBE

I don’t know if I’m allowed to.

ADOLESCENT DAUGHTER

It will be fine. Their are some open seats in the back.

The woman with the baby completely ignores Yacobe. The daughter then looks away and begins to ignore him as well.

YACOBE

I’ll find another seat.

Yacobe fins an open seat in the very back of the plane.

YACOBE

Now is a good of time as any to explain why I am headed to Texas. I’m a big brother and x best man.

Yacobe looks at the man beside him who is listening to his ipod.

YACOBE

Why can’t families be like the ones in the movies. They are not. They are real and the real sometimes is exactly what we love to hide. You probably don’t give two shits but, I’m headed home for my brother’s wedding. He recently fired me from the best man position.

The guy beside Yacobe takes out his earphones.

PASSANGER

I’m sorry were you talking to me.

YACOBE

I just had to talk out loud.

PASSANGER

Cool well, at least you still have a family.

YACOBE

I don’t know if what I’m about to say gets any lighter so maybe you should tune me out.

PASSANGER

Not everyone’s parents are perfect and well at least your brother is making money.

YACOBE

Your not on my side are you?

PASSENGER

You don’t take sides when it comes to family. I’m sorry but, I’m getting a real negative vibe from you.

YACOBE

Because I’m in pain physically and emotionally.

PASSANGER

I think you are turning a mole hill into a mountain.

YACOBE

I called my grandmother a whore.

PASSENGER

Wow. To her face.

YACOBE

No. To my mother over the phone. She recorded the conversation then played it back to her.

PASSANGER

Wow, at least you weren't on speaker phone.

YACOBE

I was.

PASSANGER

I’ll give you five minutes. Lets see if you can go that long without bringing up the past.

YACOBE

You never asked what happened to my ankle.

Yacobe has his leg propped up with ice on it.

PASSANGER

You sprained your ankle.

YACOBE

What are you pyschic.

PASSENGER

They did a study in the fifties on telephone operators. It seemed that the person on the other line was more than willing to flirt with the agent on the phone to the point of telling juicy details about their personal life to a random stranger.

YACOBE

Thought it was just me sorry to bore you.

PASSANGER

That’s cool your just an experience. Take you deepest darkest fear. Say to suffer and die a nobody. We are all one in the eyes of god. Do you believe in god?

YACOBE

I have an interest in the theory of divine unity.

PASSANGER

Are you calling god a theory? I bet you don’t even believe in true love. Why are you even on this flight?

YACOBE

My brothers wedding.

PASSANGER

There’s a man who’s found his island. A man gets closer to God through a woman.

YACOBE

You know relationships are primarily based on economics and proximity.

PASSANGER

God your boring. I bet your life is like a movie I wouldn't want to watch.

YACOBE

I warned them to stop.

PASSANGER

Listen you got to take things and make them positive. You only get one life. Unless your Buddhist.

YACOBE

It’s not nice to profile. Never make assumptions. That’s ignorant.

PASSANGER

All men are brothers.

YACOBE

What are you listening to?

PASSANGER

Beethoven’s ode to joy.

YACOBE

The music secedes even with those people for whome organized religion fails.

PASSANGER

It speaks to me of immortality.

YACOBE

It’s hard to imagine something endless within me. I don’t feel entitled to that. I want to live and die like everything else on earth.

PASSENGER

What’s you occupation.

YACOBE

I’m a waiter assistant. I believe my job title is referred to as an essay.

PASSANGER

Your an essay.

YACOBE

That is correct.

PASSENGER

You do more than that.

YACOBE

If your suggesting I work more than one job.

PASSANGER

You do more than that.

YACOBE

No, I’m afraid it is that simple.

PASSENGER

You seem more educated than that.

YACOBE

Are you saying that there is a level of stupidity to what I do?

PASSANGER

What is you passion?

YACOBE

I’m a screenplay writer.

The passenger erupts in laughter.

PASSANGER

Stay positive.

YACOBE

What’s that supposed to mean?

PASSANGER

Because you probably won’t make it but, stay positive. That’s the key.

YACOBE

You can go back to reading your fucking book asshole.

PASSANGER

Honesty isn’t very pleasing to you.

YACOBE

You don’t know my work you’ve never read any of it.

PASSANGER

Hey I’m just going on statistics.

YACOBE

You know what keep you statistics. I’m sure you are one of those guys that sits on his ass all day criticizing other peoples artistic work because you can’t create anything of your own that’s worth a damn.

PASSANGER

Alright pitch me your screenplay.

YACOBE

I don’t pitch screenplays, I write them.

PASSANGER

If you ever plan on getting one sold you might want to try a little harder.

YACOBE

Alright you want a cheap handjob, I’ll give you a quickie Mr. Marketeer.

PASSANGER

A guy goes home to be the best man at his brothers wedding and he realizes through that event things he never knew about himself and his family.

PASSANGER

Sounds boring.

YACOBE

Well, I guess you’d have to read it. That’s why I don’t pitch screenplays.

PASSANGER

Well, just a hint you could make it sound a bit more desirable if you compared it to something you more familiar that I might have already seen.

The passenger thinks for a second.

PASSANGER

For instance you could say that your film is like wedding crashers meets fried green tomatoes.

YACOBE

But, It’s not. What you just said cheapens my work.

PASSANGER

Hey kid, if you don’t know how to sale yourself than you will never succeed.

YACOBE

I’m not going to pimp my words for you brain washed pop culture pea brain.

PASSANGER

I’m 57 years old boy. When I was your age I was protesting the war and I don’t even own a T.V. I bet you chastise every critic of you work. I may not have written a screenplay but, I’ve watched several of them and yours sounds fucking pathetic. Oh and you can’t talk shit if you’ve never sold one. Booyaa!

YACOBE

Well this is going to be and enjoyably awkward flight. The pain in my ankle is starting to intensify as well as my objectivity to you.

PASSANGER

Live and learn baby.

YACOBE

I’m not your boy I’m not you baby and lets get that correct.

PASSANGER

Excuse me you demand alot of respect. It’s like I’m talking to the General of busting balls.