MOSES AND THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE (revised version 04)
by Michele Kaplan

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET. CEREAL AISLE. DAY
MOSES (tall, lanky, 30's male, quirky, eccentric, occasionally stutters) is standing in the cereal aisle pondering his choices. PUBESCENT BAG BOYS & STOCK BOYS (teen males dressed in matching uniforms and aprons) are busily moving about the aisles, restocking shelves, assisting customers, etc, while the GOSSIPING MARKET WENCHES (female, 60's, wears bright red and pink lipstick) are watching everyone and everything and are gossiping non-stop. Everyone seems to be moving very quickly, except Moses who is talking out loud and to us. No one else seems to see the audience and looks at Moses as if he was nuts.

MOSES:
Ah… home sweet home. The Supermarket. Sure, I have a place of residence where I spend my nights, sleeping and eating and such, but nothing can really compare to spending my days, philosophizing, if you will, in the vast cereal aisles of our country's mighty food stores. Call me what you will, and you will, but this is the only place that I truly feel … me.

Moses shakes his head and ponders for a moment, only to realize the camera is still there. Moses starts to tap his toes and looks around with great impatience

What? You are still here? Oh, alright. I suppose you'll want more information, I mean, I really haven't told you very much, let alone enough to be a story. Very well.

(a beat)

It all began in Howard's Supermarket's colorful cereal aisle, about two weeks ago. The greatest, well… only supermarket in my town. Granted the produce was limited, and the meats rarely fresh, but the cereal aisles were something to admire. Every chance I get, I come here, for a man, such as myself, can never have too much cereal.

Moses looks around and leans closer the camera as if he was telling a secret.

Actually, want to know a secret? Sometimes, I don't even buy cereal, I just come here to look at the many boxes with all the colors and characters and ingredients, and spend hours of my day, philosophizing which one is the best, if I were to actually purchase an actual box of cereal.

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET- CEREAL AISLE. DAY. Flashback to two weeks ago.
Moses is gazing at the many boxes of cereal in great delight and passion. Meanwhile the market is busy and people are busily moving about and around him. Except for the PUBESCENT BAG BOYS and GOSSIPING MARKET WENCHES, he remains unnoticed. You can always tell when Moses is thinking to himself, for he makes very passionate hand gestures and facial expressions, though he isn't always aware that he's doing this. He gets caught up in the passion of his inner debates.

MOSES: (V.O)
So there I was. Confronted. It was just me and the market and the aisle and pubescent bag boys and stock boys and produce boys and the gossiping market wenches… the … the thousands and thousands and thousands of cereal boxes, each one with a consequence. Well, one could only imagine the utmost pressure of such a monumental decision!

What if I reach for the dried oats? The bran? What does THAT say about me? And what… what if I am confronted and asked why? 'Why did you chose that box of bran and oats?' What would I say? What would I do? How would I answer when I don't even know the answer myself.

(a beat)

And if that wasn't enough, it then came to me! There was MORE to life then just bran and oats! There was the wheat, the corn, the rye, the millet, magically puffed and stuffed into a plastic box! And then… and then… came the sugar! The Lucky, the Frosted, the Count,

and I thought what If I were to take the crack coated ewwy gewey prize inside chemical mallobar in milk?! Wouldn't that just say so much?

No… no doubt the gossiping market wenches would say, (for you know how the gossiping wenches of the market are)

Mimicking The Gossiping Market Wenches

'oh how very typical of him to chose the choice that lacks the essential substance!'

Returns to normal voice

And so there I was... enraged in the cereal aisle, ready to snatch the bright box of sugary edibleness, just to piss those wenches off. Just so, as I walked down the aisle, with that naughty naughty cereal in my hand, I could hear them whispering , and pretend that I did not hear them, and all the while, hearing every single word. Genius!

TALULA (Powerful & sexual female, 30's) enters and peers at Moses.

When of a sudden I was confronted by a mysterious woman.

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET- CEREAL AISLE. DAY. Present.
Moses is standing there flabbergasted as he explains to the camera. a PUBESCENT BAG BOY walks by in the background, pauses and looks at Moses oddly. Pauses again and notices the camera, looks oddly at the camera, then at Moses and then slowly walks away.

MOSES:
Now, normally, I do not care much for women. I often find that women of my generation hide too much behind a façade of ritual cosmetics and what society has told them to be. But, Talula… she was different. Much to my surprise, she did not question me on my choice of cereal, and what perhaps was even stranger, I did not try to escape her nor avoid eye contact, as I would normally do with women of her kind. They make me nervous. Though, in retrospect, I don't think I would have had much choice in the matter. After all, it WAS Talula.

INT. BLACK INTERVIEW ROOM. DAY
Talula is sitting in a chair starring at the camera. She is smoking a cigarette (in a long cigarette holder)

TALULA
So there I was. The beautiful Talula,

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET- CEREAL AISLE - TWO WEEKS AGO. DAY.
Flashback to two weeks ago. Talula eyes Moses and confronts him with much charm and mojo. Moses turns away from the cereal boxes and sees Talula. He is startled. He is frozen and just stares at her.

TALULA: (V.O)
wondering down the bane cereal aisle, for we all get hungry, even in The Beautiful Life, when I found these pair of eyes staring at me. Bright, vivid and admiring. I knew that those eyes had fallen madly in love with me. Why wouldn't they? I am beautiful. I am Talula and I know what I know. Why, I had no choice but to confront him and tell him the glorious news!

Talula walks over to Moses and makes direct eye contact with him. She is incredibly charismatic and enchanting. She comes off as very confident and fearless.

MOSES (V.O)
And she came right up to me! As if she knew me. As if we had met at a party, or shared common friends, or a bed or a bench or a table or something - anything! I watched her mouth as it said…

INT. CLOSE UP ON TALULA'S MOUTH.
Her lips are painted red and look very full and alluring.

TALULA:
How fortunate you are

Talula grins. Moses begins to sweat. He is nervous and shocked.

MOSES: (V.O)
her lips were painted red, they were distracting and bright. Between you and me, inside I could hardly believe this was happening, and in the cereal aisle of all sacred places, but outside I was speechless, as usual. She continued.

TALULA:
to have fallen in love with me.

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET- CEREAL AISLE. DAY. Two weeks ago.

TALULA:
Well, at least with exquisite exterior, and now you yearn and desire to know every single detail about my… soul, my life story, my dreams, my goals, my passion…

(a beat)

what I like in my drink. How sweet.

Talula taunts/flirts with Moses. He is frozen and speechless.

MOSES: (V.O)
First I thought: how absurd! I mean, really! But then I wondered. Is it really THAT absurd? Maybe… it was too absurd not to be true! Had I fallen in love with her? Could it be that I was so wrapped up in the consequences of my choice of cereal, that I had fallen in love without even knowing it?

INT. BLACK INTERVIEW ROOM. DAY

TALULA:
He just stood there in typical silence with his mouth wide open, a gazed and aghast.

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET. CEREAL AISLE. DAY. TWO WEEKS AGO.
Talula has Moses backed up against the cereals, though all she does is look at him straight in the eyes. She makes him very nervous, knows that and feeds off of it. The Gossiping Market Wenches walk by and stare in shock and delight.

TALULA: (V.O)
He was just like the rest. Desperately wanting someone to take charge. To tell him how he should be. What is cool. What is right.

(a beat)

Yeah. I knew at that moment, that for a moment in time, I would be that person. And I told him so

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET- CEREAL AISLE. DAY. Present.
PUBESCENT BAG BOY 1 walks by again and brings back PUBESCENT BAG BOY 2 with him. They are wondering what the hell Moses is doing- for after all- he IS telling a story in the middle of a cereal aisle.
MOSES:
Never in my life have I met such a woman. I mean, this was a woman who ignored the.. the sheer consequence of language! It was almost as if she said exactly what was on her mind, at the exact moment it came to her! Oh! To this day, it just boggles my mind!

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET. CEREAL AISLE. DAY. TWO WEEKS AGO.
Talula turns to Moses and talks in his direction.

TALULA:
Consequence? What is that, but just another ugly word for hesitation and fear and not doing? There is no room in The Beautiful Life for the ugly ways of consequence, and here he was contemplating the consequence of cereal!?

Talula laughs and continues talking to Moses, but we do not hear what she is saying. We only hear Moses thinking to himself.

MOSES (V.O):
After much thought I had decided that I simply had no choice but to explore this situation, after all it was love.

A MAN (mid twenties, male) walks by Talula and whistles at her. She laughs - absorbing the power.

INT. DRIVING ON THE ROAD. NIGHT
Moses is driving in his car - which is too small for his lanky frame. He is driving to The Beautiful Life House while talking to us.
MOSES:
So I agreed to meet with her and her friend, later that night. We went to this little house and I found it funny how I had never noticed that house before, even though I must have driven down that same road countless number of times.

He pulls into a hidden driveway and parks his car.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
Crowded small house filled with a wide variety of people and personalities. The décor is very colorful, loud and manic. Moses is sitting on a couch next to Talula. He is clearly nervous and out of his element.

MOSES (V.O) :
Talula. She was a very interesting woman with a plethora of odd theories of life and expression.

INT. CLOSE UP ON TALULA'S MOUTH

TALULA:
Words. Table. Strawberry. June 8th. Zebra. Dizzy. Circa. Hick.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
Talula is speaking with Moses.

MOSES (V.O):
She said as she explained to me that this was what was known as a spontaneous monologue. Which obviously does not have to make sense. I got the feeling that it was the spontaenousness that was more important then any actual meaning and depth and so I replied

INT. CLOSE UP ON MOSES' MOUTH

MOSES:
Camera. Lampshade. Forgotten. Doorway. 13. Sir Frances Crick.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT

Talula smiles at Moses.

MOSES: (V.O)
She smiled at me. I felt proud. I had impressed her, although between you and me, I tuned out after she said the word 'table' so that I could plan out my so-called spontaneous monologue. Shhh. Don't tell her. Oh! Excuse me. I must pause now to chuckle at my genius. No one ever knew! I love it!

Moses takes a deep breath and collects himself. Moses turns to the camera and talks to us while everyone talks to other people, not noticing Moses or the camera.

MOSES:
Ah, but I continue. I thought surely, if I had fallen in love with this woman, I had better do my best to conform to her ideals and theories, or at least that's what she said, and she has been right so far. She is beautiful. Her name is Talula. Therefore, under that stream of logic, she must be right! And thus I must conform. I had decided at that moment to make it my lifelong obsession to impress her. She said that there was even a very distinct possibility of her reciprocating my love, that it could happened at any second now-just like that. Imagine…

INT. BLACK INTERVIEW ROOM. DAY

TALULA:
We all need to feel fantastically adored. That we are some kind of rare genius. Inspired! So was it all so bad to make that my obsession? Ah.. The Beautiful Life, where I am loved like a cult. Devotion. That's all I ever wanted and I saw that potential in Moses… and her…

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
BOO GIRL (female, 30's, pixie-light, and slightly awkward. She is wearing a very funky retro 'thrift store from the village' styled dress, as well as a name tag that reads "BOO GIRL") enters the house. Talula greets her with a hug and they sit next to Moses.

MOSES: (V.O)
Just then, Boo Girl entered the house.

INT. BLACK INTERVIEW ROOM. DAY

TALULA:
Boo Girl was a glorious woman, and while my obsession started off with men only, I found that the devotion that I sought, knew no gender barriers.

(a beat)

Talula sighs

Though, in retrospect, I'm not sure if any of my loves, were truly devoted to me. I was new to them. Like a toy. And everything is exciting when it's new and unknown…

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
Boo Girl walks over to Moses with Talula by her side. Moses notices Boo Girl's pixie-esq appearance and small hands. Boo Girl extends her hand to Moses so that he may kiss it. Moses is unsure of what to do, so Talula motions for him to kiss her hand. He does and they continue to talk to each other as Moses thinks to himself.

INT. NAME TAG ON BOO GIRL'S DRESS

MOSES: (V.O)
The name tag she wore read Boo Girl. I thought, 'what mother in her right mind, would name their child, Boo Girl?

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
Boo Girl and Talula pause from their conversation and look at Moses oddly as they notice he is staring at Boo Girl's chest - but he's really just looking at her name tag. Moses realizes he's been staring, turns bright red and looks down. Talula and Boo Girl continue talking.

MOSES: (V.O)
but I dared not confess that thought, for maybe it was a reference to her religion or culture or dead relative, I really didn't know. I must admit, I really only know about cereals.

BOO GIRL:
Good evening sir, my name is Isabella.

MOSES:
Isabella?

(V.O)

I asked (remembering the name tag)

BOO GIRL:
You dare to question me?

Boo Girl said rather flabbergasted as she raised her hand to slap Moses.

You, who does not know me? Who has never met me? You are to tell me, my name is NOT Isabella?

MOSES: (V.O)
She had a point, but her name tag? I mean… one thing that never failed me was my eyes.

(OUT LOUD)

Well.. it's your name tag. It does say Boo Girl.

Boo Girl looks down at her shirt and starts to laugh

BOO GIRL:
Ha! Oh so it does!

(a beat)

I know! Would you like to wear it?

MOSES:
Oh I couldn't.

(V.O)

I mean gracious as it was, why on earth would I want to wear that name tag, my name wasn't Boo Girl, nor did I wish to be known as Boo Girl. I could hear the gossiping marketing wenches cackle at the idea.

Boo Girl tries to pin her name tag onto Moses shirt and the crowd cheers her on.

BOO GIRL:
Oh, of course you can

MOSES (V.O)
she said, as her rather non-nimble fingers pinned the name tag on my shirt and accidentally pricked my skin. My poor nipple. I do hope it didn't leave a scar.

Moses lets out a high pitched shriek

BOO GIRL:
Oh, I am terribly sorry!

(A BEAT)

and yet that will teach you not to question my name when I tell it to you!

This sends the rest of the room, which was rather crowded with a plethora of admirers, all for Talula of course, into a strange fit of laughter. Boo Girl just smiled, but as the laughter died down and everyone went back to their own little conversations, she apologized rather sincerely.

BOO GIRL:
Sorry.

TALULA:
Isabella!

MOSES (V.O):
Talula seemed to have the ears of a bat. She heard everything in the room and was always correcting and making suggestions.

TALULA:
You have no need to apologize to Moses! I'm sure he understands! If nothing else he should be congratulating you on your most true expression of passion!

Talula and Boo Girl continue to converse as Moses contemplates. He sighs.

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET - CEREAL AISLE - FANTASY SCENE
Moses is happily dancing down the cereal aisle with the many life size boxes of cereals with legs who are dancing around him and embracing him. Moses is delirious with joy.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
Moses shakes his head and snaps back to reality. Back to The Beautiful Life House. Talula and Boo Girl are still in conversation about Moses. They are talking about him, right in front of his face. Moses is pretending not to hear, but all the while is hearing every word.

MOSES (V.O)
I did however, at times take great delight in pretending that I was daydreaming, all the while listening to the conversations around me. How clever I felt, fooling them all.. again. I even fooled Talula and Boo Girl who discussed the subject of …me, right while I was sitting next to them! Even now I chuckle at the event. They said:

BOO GIRL:
He doesn't seem to be very passionate, my darling Talula. Are you sure he's right for this?

TALULA:
True, my dearest Isabella. He doesn't seem that way, but he loves me. And when a person loves you, the way he loves me, they would give the world's right arm for you, if that is what you asked, and as you know, that is the kind of devotion that I seek

BOO GIRL:
Are you sure he loves you?

TALULA:
Oh, it is better then love. You see my beloved pet. He fears me, and you only fear what you hate or can't control, and you only hate what secretly excites you, what you secretly long for, like an obsession…

Boo Girl pauses a bit confused. What Talula said didn't make sense to her.

Talula turns to Moses and taps him on the shoulder. Moses pretends to be startled as if he wasn't listening the whole time.

MOSES: (V.O)
Talula turned to me, and dared to tap me on the shoulder. If I has been truly day dreaming I would have been rather annoyed by this action. Fortunately I was just pretending.

TALULA:
Ask him yourself, Isabella. Isn't that right, Moses?

MOSES:
Hmm?

(V.O)

I said for effect but then quickly decided that I had pretended enough. Hee hee.

(a beat)

I pondered her words. Who was I, or anyone for that matter to say or disagree with Talula and so I said

(OUT LOUD)

Yes, that is true.

TALULA:
Then again, Isabella, is a lovely and intelligent creature, and I would find no surprise, if you, Moses, were to fall madly in love with the both of us.

BOO GIRL:
Oh, Talula! Do you think it is possible?

TALULA:
Anything is possible in The Beautiful Life, my most favorite Isabella…

Boo Girl jumps and down in excitement and hugs Talula. Moses then stands up. Smiles at Talula who motions that he should hug Boo Girl. He hugs Boo Girl. She hugs him back and starts to ecstatically jump up and down. Moses is stunned by the affection, but happy. He's not used to being hugged.

MOSES: (V.O)
Between you and me. I was euphoric and yet boggled. I could only think back to the words of my dearest and most grounded sister, Ophelia who always said that one could never truly love another person, unless they truly loved themselves. But since I was so madly in love, now with both Talula and Boo Girl… er… uh… Isabella, I must really love myself, for I love twice. So naturally I said

(OUT LOUD)

It is true.

Boo Girl pauses from the jumping. Moses stumbles and falls back onto the couch. Boo Girl turns to everyone in the room.

BOO GIRL:
We have a connection that not ever mere mortal can bare or understand and YES! They may try to control us, with ugly science and logic and multitude of medication and multitude and.. and.. for they will never understand our brilliance of mind! They will never understand that until they release themselves to the power and mystery and magic of The Beautiful Life… to this profound soul connection and utmost love, that they are doomed to lead a horrible life with nothing but … void, and.. and... void and void.

Everyone in the room rises. At first silence and then breaks out into a wave of applause. Talula half smiles. Moses looks at Boo Girl with smitten eyes and then looks away. Boo Girl turns to look at Moses. She smiles. Moses beams with excitement but tries to hide it.

MOSES: (V.O)
I dared not confess it, that while I was truly in love with both woman, for Talula said so, Isabella was the more enchanting, and even though Talula scorned her from time to time, because it seemed Isabella's spontaneous monologues that used sentences so well, were rather more popular then Talula's more cryptic single word spontaneous monologues. Table. Doorknob. Hick.

EXT. A PARK. NIGHT
Moses & Boo Girl are sitting on a bench, holding hands. Gazing out into the sky and scenery.

MOSES: (V.O)
I must admit I was impressed, and became even more so, when we both sneaked out one night and sat in the park, and did not say a single word to each other, and just held hands and went on and on in our minds, with silent tangent after silent philosophical tangent! It was beautiful. However, we both agreed that Talula must never know.

INT. BLACK INTERVIEW ROOM. DAY

TALULA:
I do confess, that this was one of my many mistakes. Sharing him. Passing him around like a drug or a bottle of wine. In retrospect, I would have kept him to myself. If I could.

INT. MOSES'S ROOM AT HIS HOUSE. DAY
Moses is talking on the phone with his sister, Ophelia. He receives good news and is quite happy! He hangs up the phone and starts to tidy up his small apartment and is incredibly organized and neat. Not a single thing is out of place. His walls are blank and all the rooms in house are very sparse and bare. Only the minimal essentials. A bed. A single chair. Except for a book shelf filled with books. Lots of books. Moses talks to us while further tidying up.

MOSES:
It was around this time that I had received some glorious news! First, I find love twice, and now my dearest sister, Ophelia has told me she is to be married to her long term love of over 8 years! I could only feel utmost joy for her, so much that even though she expressed her concern and disliking over my new well-being and my two new loves, I did not even feel an ounce of anger or resentment.

For Talula had clearly explained that few would understand The Beautiful Life, so you mustn't get angry at the ignorant souls, but rather pity them for they will never and can not experience the joy that herself, I, Isabella and the rest enjoy.

A love so profound, that we need not spoil it with touch and fondling- and once again Talula was right. Dearest Ophelia did not understand it at all. Poor Ophelia stuck and restricted by her own common sense and logic and dreadful groundedness. I used to envy her sanity, but now I understand that it is I that should be envied.

However, she was pleasant enough to invite me to the wedding and she said that I could bring one of my new loves as a date, if that is what I wished. Oh! How gloriously generous the ignorant can be!

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
The house is crowded as usual with the same people. Little groups are talking to each other. Talula is making her rounds, schmoozing with everyone and saying her hellos as Boo Girl follows behind her, waving at everyone. Moses is sitting on a chair talking to us via a voiceover (thinking to himself). His face is troubled and worried. Talula notices Moses and whispers to Boo Girl.

MOSES : (V.O)
And yet, the same glorious generosity of the ignorant can often lead to further dilemmas and conflict. While I was thrilled to be invited to the wedding of my only sister, I was only allowed to bring ONE love! Which would it be? Which one SHOULD it be? I dared not tell Talula, for she does not like to hear me babble about decisions and consequences.

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET- CEREAL AISLE. THE NEXT DAY
Moses returns to the Cereal Aisle. He looks at the many cereal boxes like old friends, and the whole moment is bittersweet for him.

MOSES:
So I was left with no choice, but to return to my thinking grounds, the cereal aisle. Return to where it all began in hopes that it would bring the necessary enlightenment. But the many bright boxes of cereal, only made me sad. For they were a reminder of how I used to be, when I was at ease with my inner tangents.. my glorious … horribly endless pondering of consequence, which I now scorn myself for, for they are not part of The Beautiful Life, nor something that Talula finds desirable. I so much want to be desirable, but I missed my boxes of cereal.

EXT. THE HOWARDS SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT. DAY.
Moses exits the supermarket aisle, and goes back to his car. He sighs with sadness and confusion

MOSES:
Talula had said… well she didn't really say it, but rather gave me this bumper sticker that said

EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. DAY
Talula hands Moses a bumper sticker and walks him to the car. Moses, at Talula's suggestion places the bumper sticker on the back of his car. The bumper sticker reads "Out of Sight. Out of Mind"

EXT. THE HOWARDS SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT. DAY.

MOSES:
'Out of Sight, Out of Mind' and since she was always right, I had decided it was time to stop thinking so much, which meant I must leave this cereal aisle, and return to the dwelling of The Beautiful Life, for that was my new home.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
Everyone is talking and socializing except Moses. He just looks at the floor, pretending to study the details of the carpet.

MOSES (V.O):
And while I tried with all my might to follow the wisdom of the bumper sticker, things just started to feel wrong. I know I needed to change but sometimes that just felt wrong too.

INT. MASONRY CAFÉ. DAY.
Boo Girl and Moses are having lunch, discussing The Beautiful Life. The Masonary Café is a small café with outdoor tables. Boo Girl has ordered a bowl of soup that comes with a side of crackers. Moses has ordered a bowl of soup too but has not touched it. He gives Boo Girl his crackers.

MOSES: (V.O)
Me and Boo Girl, who is now calling herself Elisabaeta, went out for lunch, and she was kind enough to give me advice on the matter. She said….

BOO GIRL:
No one in The Beautiful Life lasts for long as themselves, which is why you must fumble around with your identity, molding it accordingly and although it never quite feels right at first, you get used to it.

Boo Girl continues to explain and converse with Moses, but we only hear it from Moses' voiceover.

MOSES (V.O):
She then told me, that she molds and changes her identity ever so slightly a couple times a week (which explained the constant name changes), so that she may experience The Beautiful Life from different points of view. She was Boo Girl for half of last week, but then when that personality got old, she changed herself into Isabella, and now this week, Elisabaeta.

Boo Girl smiles at Moses and smells her soup. Stares at the salt and pepper shakers on the table. Smells her soup again. Takes the pepper shaker is about to season her soup, and then decides against it. She repeats this with the salt and then decides to leave the soup alone and eat the crackers. Looks up at Moses and talks with her mouthful.

She said

BOO GIRL:
Anytime, you want to change, I am more then happy to help you pick a new name and identity for yourself.

MOSES: (V.O)
And even though she explained with utmost cheerfulness.

Boo Girl looks into Moses' eyes.

I could see a certain sense of remorse and confusion, but she never really talked about that.

Boo Girl nervously smiles and starts chatting again

Instead she told me how these identity changes are necessary if you wish to remain and survive in The Beautiful Life. She said that Talula really likes the way she changes herself once a week. She also told me that Talula loves creativity, but only if its spontaneous and not planned or even remotely thought about.

MOSES:
Elisabaeta, I've always done my inward tangents, which I felt was creative, in it's own way, and …

Boo Girl takes Moses' hand and smiles. She speaks

BOO GIRL:
I understand.

Boo Girl takes his hand.

I used to be the same way, but if you are to be a part of The Beautiful Life, then this has to change.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. THE NEXT NIGHT.
Crowded house again. Everyone is chatting except for Moses. He is pretending to study the details of a nearby lamp.

MOSES: (V.O)
I was hoping this discussion with Elisabaeta would secretly aid me in my decision as to who to bring to the wedding, but unfortunately, only made things worse. True, I often find myself more attracted to Elisabaeta, but I am in love with both, as Talula tells me and that while the love may be equal, it was Talula who introduced this love and passion to me, therefore my loyalty must always be greater to her.

(a beat)

Sometimes, I feel it is best that I not go to the wedding at all, so that I would not have to choose, for then I would not be weighed down by the silent consequences that I dare not confess, for it is endangering my welcome into The Beautiful Life.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. THE NEXT NIGHT
Moses is sitting in the same spot as the last night. He looks distraught and tired. He hides behind a large book, while thinking to himself. Talula is talking to Boo Girl and others about him. Boo Girl is concerned.

MOSES (V.O):
I must confess, the idea of being exiled from The Beautiful Life filled my heart with more sorrow then I think I have ever felt in my entire existence. The idea of gaining two lovers and then to possibly loose them so quickly, filled my soul - Talula likes that word, soul - with pain, which led to anger, which led to a horrible feeling of being stifled, for this was not looked kindly upon in The Beautiful Life. Stop thinking, Moses! I can't! I can't!

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. EARLIER THAT MORNING.
Talula pulls Moses aside and has a talk with him.

TALULA:
Perhaps The Beautiful Life is not for you, Moses. You don't seem to be… fitting in.

BOO GIRL:
Talula, dearest, please. He is still new. He is still learning. Let him stay. Why, I… I could teach him the ways of The Beautiful Life. You, yourself said that he had hidden passions and potential and.. and… he does. Let him stay, he will learn, just like we all have.

Talula flashes Boo Girl a look, and then a smile. She is in conflict.

MOSES (V.O)
Talula reluctantly agreed, even though she was not pleased that Elisabaeta disagreed with her, but yet could not scorn her for speaking what came to mind. I could tell that these two conflicting theories (her own emotions vs. the law of The Beautiful Life) were beginning to work against her mind, as if her empire was slowly crashing down and coming to an end.

Everyone in the house remains silent. Talula looks away and exits into her private room and closes the door. Everyone is stunned and just looking at each other.

There was a strange silence in the house. No one was cheering. No one was speaking. Passion was no where to be seen. All was silent as we watched Talula slowly exit into her private chambers.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. THE NEXT DAY

MOSES:
It was the next day that Boo Girl informed me that her new name was Gwenivere, which was a good thing that she told me, for I and my two new loves (Gwenivere and Talula) were to meet my darling sister, Ophelia and her fiancée for lunch. I had expressed my dismay on having to decide, and Ophelia, quite understanding of my nature and difficulty in making decisions had a brilliant idea!

INT. MOSES'S HOUSE. DAY
Moses is on the phone with Ophelia

OPHELIA:
Moses. Why don't you all meet me for lunch at The Masonry Café. There I can meet these two loves of yours, and then give you my opinion as to which one the family would be less disturbed by and we can settle it that way.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. THE NEXT NIGHT
Moses is talking with Talula and Boo Girl, explaining the situation and inviting them to lunch with his sister and her fiancée.

MOSES (V.O)
I was hesitant at first to tell the ladies of the situation, but to my surprise both seemed quite understanding. Talula explained, that it would be fun, like a contest or game, to see who could win Ophelia's approval. Talula said it was very exciting of me to think of such a game, and she was glad that I thought of it, for she was getting quite bored lately, and needed something new.

INT. THE MASONRY CAFE. DAY
a small outdoor café with tiny, but chic, tables. Ophelia and Moses sit one end of the table, and Boo Girl (Gwenivere) and Talula sit on the other end. Moses turns to us and speaks. Talula immediately tries to take control over the situation and win everyone over with her 'charm'.

MOSES:
So there we were at The Masonry Café. Ophelia and myself sat at one end of the table, and Gwenivere and Talula on the other side. Sarah, my sister's fiancée was to meet us there, an hour later, due to a previous engagement.

Ophelia, Boo Girl and Talula look at their menus. Moses looks too but much to his dismay, cereal is not on the menu. THE WAITER (dapper, male, hair slicked back and wearing a black and white waiters uniform) arrives.

THE WAITER:
Good afternoon. Today's specials are…

TALULA:
Oh, not necessary. We'll have 3 salads. Two with blue cheese dressing, and I'll have lemon on mine. Thanks.

Talula winks at the waiter.

BOO GIRL:
I want crackers.

TALULA:
Enough with the crackers, Gwenivere. I swear, it's all she ever eats!

Talula laughs with the waiter. Boo Girl feels small.

Ophelia, dear what are you having?

OPHELIA:
The clam chowder soup, please. Oh, and crackers on the side.

The waiter exits. Ophelia smiles at Boo Girl. Boo Girl is happy again. Talula is unamused.

So, my brother, Moses, has told me much about you ladies.

TALULA:
Oh, is that so?

Talula smiled uneasy. She felt defensive now out of her niche.

MOSES: (V.O)
Talula seemed a bit defensive and tense. I think she felt exposed now that she was in The Droll World. That's Talula's term for the outside world, or The Non-Beautiful Life. Clearly not her element.

TALULA:
And what did our dim-witted love, blab about us now?

Talula lets out an odd laugh. Is she is truly amused or just phony and nervous?

The Waiter brings everyone their food. Talula winks again at him. He grins and walks away. Talula smiles and goes back to her conversation with Ophelia who has given Boo Girl her crackers.

Moses looks down at his salad. He hates blue cheese dressing. Boo Girl opens up her crackers and crumbles them up into her salad and takes a bite. She mixes around the dressing a bit with the crackers and takes another bite. Not yet satisfied she reaches for the pepper, and sprinkles some on. Takes another bite. She sighs and pushes the salad to the side. Moses and Boo Girl look at each other, both displeased with their salads. Boo Girl silently offers Moses a cracker. He accepts. They both nibble on crackers and watch Ophelia and Talula converse.

OPHELIA:
Oh, he has told me a great deal about your… beautiful life. It seems you have quite a following Miss…

TALULA:
Talula. My name is Talula. I don't bother with titles from the outside world.

OPHELIA:
Ah.

Ophelia turns to Boo Girl.

Yes, well and you, Gwenivere. Moses tells me that you two have many a thing in common. I am really quite pleased that my brother has finally found some friends

TALULA:
Friends?!

Talula let out another strange laugh.

TALULA:
Ophelia, dearest, our bond goes far beyond the common threads of mere friendship. Both Moses and Gwenivere are both madly in love with me. Who can blame them, really?

Talula takes a bite of her salad.

OPHELIA:
And you're love them back?

TALULA:
What I feel towards them, I would not call it love, exactly. It's more of a bond, that a queen or a goddess feels towards her subjects.

Talula said rather nonchalantly and took another bite of her salad. Ophelia is amused by Talula's lack of modesty.

OPHELIA:
A goddess? Your modesty is overwhelming. Tell me. What makes you more of a goddess then anyone else at this table?

TALULA:
It's quite simple, Ophelia. I am Talula. I am beautiful, therefore I know what I know.

OPHELIA:
That doesn't make any sense. Let me get this straight. Because you're name is Talula, and you deem yourself attractive to the human eye, since those two statements are true, you then expect me to believe that the third is true as well, by default?

TALULA:
Of course. Honestly, Ophelia. I don't see what is so hard to comprehend.

OPHELIA:
Oh, I comprehend it. I just don't believe it to be true.

Ophelia turns to Boo Girl. Boo Girl and Moses have decided silently, that silence was best, that it was best to let these two minds, to duke it out.

OPHELIA:
So, Gwenivere. Tell me. What do you get out of following Talula like you do?

BOO GIRL:
Well…

TALULA:
You don't need to answer that

OPHELIA:
I am just trying to understand the situation. I see what you, Talula get out of it, but I am not sure what your followers get out of it. Now, there isn't any sex, you don't really love them, they are not allowed to express themselves unless it meets your standards and definition of expression, in fact it seems you don't even let them answer for themselves. Though

(A BEAT)

I suppose for a person, like my dear brother, who doesn't want the responsibility of making decisions, but rather prefer being told what to do, being told how they should act and speak, and such, I suppose for them it's quite appealing.

MOSES (V.O)
To be honest, I had never really thought of it that way. Alright, I admit it. I wasn't really paying attention. I was thinking of my beloved cereal aisle and how things were so much simpler then.

BOO GIRL:
Well, you've only touched the surface of it. Actually, Talula highly encourages us to speak whatever comes to mind.

OPHELIA:
Sure, as long as it's a random. She scorns you for thinking about consequence, something that is completely unavoidable in life. I must say, Talula, I admire your new and brave way of life, but I am afraid that this philosophy, this beautiful life as you call it, can only work in theory.

BOO GIRL:
That is true, Ophelia.

Talula is uncharacteristically quiet and demure. Moses notices this.

And that is why you must shift your identity around in order to survive The Beautiful Life..

OPHELIA:
I am afraid I don't follow you, Gwenivere.

BOO GIRL:
Well, for an example, whenever I feel uneasy, (for I suppose that is a side effect of ignoring consequences) I change myself, my name, my look, how I act, who I am. I do admit, at times, it is not easy, because it is in my nature to think and ponder consequence, and in The Beautiful Life, they shun such things as consequence. Therefore, I re-new myself and escape into a new me, and I find that the uneasiness just goes away.

OPHELIA:
That's a fascinating notion, but don't you get tired of having to change? Wouldn't you for once like to be yourself and stay that way?

TALULA:
Ah, and that is why you are you, living in the normal and Droll World, and why we are living in The Beautiful Life. Why remain as your boring old self, when you can explore many selves. Many lives?

OPHELIA:
It is up to a person to make themselves interesting, Talula.

TALULA:
But surely you've felt, that there is something missing in your life? This… this void, that somehow you are destined for greater things, that there is more to life then what the present is presenting to you?

Boo Girl and Moses nod yes.

OPHELIA:
Of course. But to change one's identity every time you get uneasy… that's just an escape.

(a beat)

I mean, do you even know who you are? What are you about? Doesn't that bother you, not to know? Isn't it exhausting to always be running away from life and desperately trying to escape from what plagues you? What kind of life? What kind of future is that?

MOSES: (V.O)
Ophelia questioned. A near tangent. I was so proud.

TALULA:
Dearest Ophelia

Talula let out another one of those laughs

In The Beautiful Life we do not focus on the future. But rather remain in the present. Celebrating the now.

MOSES: (V.O)
I started to feel uneasy. On one hand I was filled with my usual inward tangents, but at the same time, inward tangents were highly looked down upon in The Beautiful Life, but I very well couldn't just interrupt and … and… and… so I said,

(OUT LOUD)

So, Ophelia. Tell us about the wedding. When are you and your fiancée to be married?

(V.O)

Phew. Much better.

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. NIGHT
Everyone is talking with each other except Moses. He is talking to us via voice over again. But this time looking straight at the camera. Talula is sitting on the opposite end of the room with her arms crossed. She is beyond not happy. She is confused and in conflict. Boo Girl keeps looking around at Talula and then Moses. Back and forth. She nibbles on some crackers.

MOSES: (V.O)
Oh, such dismay! My sister had called me that night and had told me that I was to bring Gwenivere to the wedding as my date, for she liked her better. When I told Talula this, she was very, very un-amused. Surely she felt that she would have been picked, after all, she was Talula. She was beautiful, and therefore felt that she should've been picked, but she wasn't. And the fact that this logic that said because a and b is true, c is true as well, was simply not working like it used to, I can't put my finger on it, but it was almost as if it had made Talula …. Think.

(a beat)

Forgive me for saying so, but sometimes I have this gross voice in my head that says, that just perhaps, that she, Talula I mean, is not at all what she seems, or wants to believe! Oh I know, I know, it is just a horrible thing for me to even think, but …

INT. THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE HOUSE. LATER THAT NIGHT
Everyone is busy chatting, except Talula. She is sitting by herself - quiet and looking troubled.

MOSES: (V.O)
The air in The House of The Beautiful Life, was so thick and tense that night. Everyone was talking how, Gwenivere (who had decided not to change her name this week) went for Coffee with Ophelia and Sarah (my sister's fiancée). They invited me, of course, and I wanted to go, I did, but I decided it was best not to. Well I couldn't really. I didn't have much choice in the matter. As it was, Talula was already furious that Gwenivere went to have coffee with the enemy (Ophelia and Sarah), especially since she had clearly expressed to Gwenivere that she did not want her to go, so I thought it best that I not go with them, but rather stay with Talula at the house.

It was a quiet night in the house. Well, or should I say, Talula was quiet that night. This strange look of sadness and lost control, she just sat there, almost mumbling to herself. How odd of her, since The Beautiful Life does not allow sadness or troubled feelings. Almost like a spider that had gotten trapped in her own web.

Talula stands up and clears her throat.

All of the sudden she stood up and cleared her throat. Silence.

TALULA:
There are going to be some changes around here.

(a beat)

Rule #1, unless I okay any outside companions, no one, and I repeat no one, is to associate with any members of The Droll World. Rule #2, There is to be no thinking to one's self. Any thoughts that come to mind, no matter how evil or how good, you must say them out loud. Anyway who is caught thinking to themselves, you will be considered a traitor and will be asked to leave The Beautiful Life. Immediately. Rule #3. Anyone who feels that they no longer love me, or feels unsatisfied in The Beautiful Life may leave now, for we do not have time to waste on stragglers and those who are unsure and unworthy of The Beautiful Life. I will notify you if there are any further changes. Kindly resume.

Talula sits back down and watches the crowd as everyone says everything that comes to mind out loud - and thus no one is having conversations. Moses mumbles out loud nonsense, just so he could observe everything without getting in trouble.

MOSES: (V.O)
Well, I tell you. It was weird. Everyone was saying exactly what came to mind, and therefore no one was listening to each other, it was this strange humming noise throughout the room. I was too intrigued not to listen, so I moved my lips a lot and made random noises, so that no one would accuse me of thinking to myself. But, between you and me. I was! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Boo Girl enters the house. Everyone in the house continues to speak out loud but in a lower tone to hear what is sure to go down between Boo Girl and Talula.

Just then, Gwenivere walked in. Everyone in the room, looked at each other, still speaking randomly out loud of course, but in a lower tone, so that they could hear the argument that was surely to be taking place between Gwenivere and Talula. The odd thing was, Gwenivere was smiling. I had only seen her truly smile twice. Once when we had sneaked out for a night of silence and inner tangents, and now.

Boo Girl walks over the Moses. She is very happy.

MOSES:
Gwenivere…

BOO GIRL:
Oh, Moses! I had the most wonderful time with your sister and her fiancée! They took me to places I've only looked in the windows of but never dared to enter! The coffee shops and the dance halls and the museums, and we talked about everything, it was so wonderful.. I .. I feel so …

TALULA:
Free?

Talula interrupted.

Alive? How wonderful. Here I am, giving you everything. Giving you life. And what do you do in return? Betray me by spending your nights with others. Do I ask for too much when I ask that we all meet come sundown at this house? Gwenivere?

BOO GIRL:
Actually, I think my name will be Boo Girl, now.

Boo Girl smiles. The night has led her to question her relations with Talula.

TALULA:
Oh, whatever. Boo Girl! Is this house no longer a haven? A retreat for you? No, I guess it isn't anymore. Not now that you have your new friends and new precious places and your new life. I suppose you don't need me anymore. You don't love me anymore. As if you ever did.

Boo Girl is unsure of her feelings for Talula. Things have changed. She can't say I love you and look Talula in the eye anymore.

BOO GIRL:
Talula! Of course I… love…you.

(a beat)

but surely you can appreciate that doing the same thing every night of the week, of the month, of the year is…it's. I..I need variety! And I didn't know this, that I needed it, that I would enjoy it, until I experienced it, but do not think that I… that my … love for you is any less? That.. I.. I.. I mean, I..I really believe that … that .. it's good. It's a good thing, ya know? Try to think of it as me bringing more passion back to the house, so that we may all revel in it…

TALULA:
Passion?

Talula laughed.

You call that passion? Foolish girl, The Droll World knows nothing of passion. This! This… is passion. The house is passion. The Beautiful Life is passion. I, I am passion, not some stupid coffee house where a mere cup of coffee suddenly becomes trendy with the right clothes and the right tongue. Where the museums exhibit canvases that have a single red dot smack in the middle of it, and some drollish fool buys it for 100 thousand dollars, because it somehow 'makes a statement'.

And what of your new friends, Ophelia and Sarah. Surely, yes. They are witty and maybe even clever, perhaps less ignorant then the average drollish soul, but they are not passion. They are not The Beautiful Life. They are not me, nor do I see them becoming so, so perhaps now would be a good time, to tell us. Which do you enjoy more, your non-passioned companions of the ugly droll world, who would no doubt, snatch you from me at the slightest chance, or The Beautiful Life, where you have learned and experienced passion. Where you were reborn. Or have you forgotten all that?

BOO GIRL:
You have only mentioned the negative side of The Droll World. Even The Droll World has it's beauty! Fine, it is "not as beautiful as this one, and they are not as blessed as we are", but don't we all go to work everyday in The Droll World? Isn't The Droll World that pays our bills. Is it not in The Droll World where we buy our food and clothing and water and where we breathe and live. Isn't it exactly in The Droll World where you met Moses…

MOSES:
Actually it was in The Cereal Aisle

(V.O)

I said, for I was offended. There was nothing droll about the cereal aisle.

BOO GIRL:
In The Droll World, why it's where you met all of us! I mean isn't this whole grand and wonderful world we live in, The Beautiful Life, a reaction .. a rebellion against The Droll World. Even then we are indirect product and … if you could just see….

TALULA:
Please. Stop. You are only making a fool of yourself, my dear. You do not know what you are saying. You are clearly delirious. Do you now see

Talula said as she turned to the rest

what happens when one spends their time in The Droll World more then necessary?! Look what has become of our precious Gwenivere. Doubting the truth and ways of The Beautiful Life, as if she was just oh-so-above it all, now that she has outside companions. If The Beautiful Life isn't good enough for you anymore, Boo Girl… Gwenivere… whomever you are,

Talula turned around and looked Gwenivere straight in the eye

then leave this home and do not return. How can we survive when we have indiscretions? Dishonesty? Semi-loyalty. No. No no, we can not have that, now can we, and we won't!

BOO GIRL:
Okay.

Boo Girl collects her things and gets ready to exit. She hugs Moses, and looks at him warmly and then leaves. Everyone is completely and utterly silent. Moses is stunned, especially since Boo-Girl seemed to be okay.

MOSES:
It was odd, Boo Girl's departure, because she didn't seem horribly upset about it as I thought she would. After all she was losing a love. I thought surely to lose a love as such, would nearly kill a person, for that was what Talula had said, which was one of the reasons I never left, I didn't want to nearly die, I suppose I could always visit the cereal aisle as a ghost but it just wouldn't be the same.

But she didn't die. In fact, she seemed… happy. And then it hit me. These were not my thoughts. It was Talula that told me that I was in love, I never really came to that decision on my own, I never came to any of these decisions on own, I just agreed with what Talula had said, because she made sense at the time, didn't she?

Moses looks around the room nervously. Taps his foot. Runs out the door suddenly.

EXT. A ROAD. NIGHT.
Moses is running with all his might towards the supermarket.

I ran! I ran because I felt I did not belong anymore! Where was I? Who had I become? I ran because I missed my cereal aisle and the gossiping wenches and the pubescent produce boys and stock boys and bag boys, even the woman behind the deli counter, who always gave me free samples of exotic cheeses and processed meats.

Moses stops in the middle of the street. Pauses and then realizes he left his car in the parking lot of The Beautiful Life House.

My car! My car! Oh crap!

Moses starts to run back to get his car.

INT. HOWARD'S SUPERMARKET. THE CEREAL AISLE. DAY

And now I am back where I belong. In the Cereal Aisle with the familiar colors and faces and options. And I continue where I left off, for frankly, it was rather rude of Talula to interrupt my pondering of cereal. Bran or oats? Wheat or rice? Ah… At last I am home.

Boo Girl is there waiting for him at the end of the cereal aisle, with a box of crackers in her arms. She walks towards him.

THE END