Can I kiss you before you leave?

1. INT./EXT. APARTMENT -DAY

A colorful living room can be seen. The decor is simple, yet beautiful. The front door of the apartment is open, letting bright sunshine and soft shadows fill the room. THE WOMAN, 32, is sitting in a green armchair. She is drinking a cup of tea. THE MAN, 35, stands in the doorway, smiling softly in the sunlight. If The Woman hears him or if she just senses his presence is unclear, but she looks up with a smile. The smile is empty and a little broken. 

THE WOMAN
You don’t have to just stand there...it’s still your house.

                       

THE MAN
Thank you. (while stepping inside) I wasn’t sure if it would be harder for you if I came by.

THE WOMAN
You think I’d be able to move on that fast?         

She gets up and gets closer to him, but stops awkwardly a few feet away from him.

THE MAN
I don’t know how much time that has passed.

THE WOMAN
Not enough for me to move on.

She tries to laugh a little, but it sounds more like a tense cough. The Man keeps smiling towards her. 

THE MAN
The sunshine is so beautiful today.

THE WOMAN
I was just thinking about that. It’s perfect, actually. (beat) I’ve missed you baby, but you haven’t missed me, have you?

THE MAN
I’ve just been floating. I can neither miss somebody nor not miss somebody.

THE WOMAN
Why are you here then?

THE MAN
I felt you calling me, so I figured I had to go check in on you. Are you going to be OK?   

THE WOMAN
I suppose so, it’s just that the air is so terribly thick in here. I’ve been lighting incense, sage and whatever-that-wood-you-burn-is-called, but I can’t seem to clear the air. Maybe it’s all stuck in my throat...I wish I knew.

                       

THE MAN
I should probably take off again.

THE WOMAN
(takes a couple of steps towards him)
Can I kiss you before you leave?

THE MAN
It doesn’t work that way. What we had...was something so beautiful, but it doesn’t exist anymore. You can’t hold on to things that don’t exist, can you?

THE WOMAN
But I feel it. How can you say it doesn’t exist, if I still feel it?

THE MAN
Maybe it does exist then. (beat) Have a good life, dear.

THE WOMAN
Why did you come just to leave again?

THE MAN
I don’t know. Maybe I did miss you after all.

                     

The woman looks at the man as he walks out the front door and disappears into the light. She picks up a pack of cigarettes hidden in a vintage box, lights a smoke and sits back down in the armchair. She looks straight forward while tears slowly fall down her cheeks.

FADE TO WHITE.