Directed by Aeron Macintyre
With Eden Neuendorf & Darek Burkowski
(Present day. Julie sits at a table peering at a matchbook. Ethan paints her image. Her pose is similar to the woman in the Nighthawks painting)
JULIE
Are you almost done? I think my butt fell asleep.
ETHAN
Not yet. Shake it off if you need to but try to keep the pose.
(Julie moves around in her seat while attempting to keep her upper body still)
JULIE
What’s with the matchbook? Are you painting a pyromaniac?
ETHAN
I hadn’t thought of that. She could be, I suppose.
JULIE
Have you done my face yet? I could try to look more dangerous. (She demonstrates her dangerous face)
ETHAN
I’d prefer a sense of mystery in your expression.
JULIE
I can be mysterious. (She demonstrates her mysterious face)
ETHAN
How about you dial that back about 67 percent?
JULIE
Like this?
ETHAN
Perfect. I’ll let you know when I get to the face.
JULIE
I haven’t used matches since the night we met. You remember how I gave you my number?
ETHAN
Of course. You wrote it inside a matchbook. The one you’re holding, in fact.
JULIE
I didn’t realize. (flips open the matchnook) You kept it all this time.
ETHAN
I burned most of our mementos after you left. But I couldn’t let go of that one.
JULIE
Did you use one of these matches to light the fire?
ETHAN
I did.
JULIE
How symbolic. I don’t blame you. It was rough at the end…But we’re good now, right? Sometimes exes are better off as friends.
ETHAN
Yeah. We’re good. (sarcastic) Maybe one day we’ll even be BFFs.
JULIE
(Matching his sarcasm) OMG!
(They smile and lock eyes. The smiles give way to lust for a beat until Julie breaks eye contact)
JULIE
You know, this pose seems very familiar.
ETHAN
It should. It’s really famous.
JULIE
Then this isn’t very original.
ETHAN
Not much is these days. There’s no point to being original anymore.
JULIE
If that sentence had come of of your mouth three years ago, you probably would have kicked your own ass.
ETHAN
Probably. Now I’m more interested in profit than originality. There’s a guy willing to pay a lot for this piece.
JULIE
I’d like to see it before we go any further. (moves to the painting) It was supposed to be a surprise!
ETHAN
JULIE
That’s the diner from Nighthawks…You’re recreating it?
ETHAN
There are similarities but I’m doing my own spin. In my version, the scene takes place at dusk. The woman at the counter is a blond. The guy next to her doesn’t have a cigarette anymore, he’s vaping.
JULIE
Then why am I holding matches? You know what- it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be part of your Edward Hopper rip off.
ETHAN
It’s not a rip off! It’s a reboot.
JULIE
It’s a waste of your talent. What happened to your artistic integrity?
ETHAN
That went to shit after you left me.
JULIE
Don’t put this on me, Ethan
ETHAN
I’m not. My creativity faded. I almost gave up. Then a wealthy patron commissioned pieces that required hardly any inspiration. I’ve been doing them ever since.
JULIE
How many reboots have you painted?
ETHAN
(reluctantly hands her a binder) Check out my portfolio.
JULIE
(flipping through in disgust) The Girl With The Pearl Nosering…The Last Brunch… Moaning
Lisa?
ETHAN
The profit from Moaning Lisa alone paid for this studio.
JULIE
We’ll, you’re certainly versatile. (tosses binder down) And what are you gonna call your newest work, huh? Evening Pigeons?
ETHAN
That’s not a bad title.
JULIE
You’ve sold out completely! I know what it’s like to be uninspired but I would never exploit another artist’s work.
ETHAN
You wouldn’t have to. Your art is way more appreciated than mine. I was always in your
shadow.
JULIE
This is why I left. You could never handle my success. I’m not having this conversation again.
But for the record, your old pieces were brilliant.
ETHAN
Look at this from my point of view. It’s much easier for me to take something people already love and reboot it-
JULIE
You mean defile it.
ETHAN
Either way, it’s more successful than my other stuff was.
JULIE
Ethan, you’re better than this. I wish you knew it. I’m going home now. You should write a eulogy.
ETHAN
What’s that supposed to mean?
JULIE
Your creativity is dead. Might as well give it a funeral. (exits)
(Her parting words inspire Ethan. A big smile spreads on his face. Julie renters)
JULIE
Forgot my keys. (she grabs them and turns to leave again)
ETHAN
Jules, wait! Please stay, you, you- magnificent midwife!
JULIE
Huh?
ETHAN
You just helped birth the concept for my first original piece in years.
JULIE
Are you serious? That’s fantastic!
ETHAN
I’m starting over right now. No more reboots. You got those matches?
(They stand before his painting. Julie gets a match ready)
JULIE
You sure about this?
ETHAN
(nods) I feel good. I feel really good.
(she strikes the match)
The End
Art and Music in Our Souls 