INT. HUDSON HOTEL LOBBY – AFTERNOON
As Isabel moves through the lobby, she is watched by MARK,
a trendy 20-something, who sits in an armchair near the
entrance, peering at her through dark sunglasses.
Just as she reaches the front doors, he calls out to her.
MARK
Isabel Lee.
Isabel turns, first noticing PETER, a handsome and smartly
dressed man in his mid-20s, who is checking his luggage with
the porter. Then she turns, seeing Mark.
ISABEL
Wait... Mark?
He removes the sunglasses.
ISABEL
(continuing)
Oh my God ... what are you doing here?
Mark stays seated. He is very laid-back, possibly stoned,
and expends the least possible energy at all times.
MARK
Looking for you. No easy task. I went by
Johnson's studio and they said you were
working here. So I thought why not,
carpe diem, I'd just stop by.
ISABEL
Wow. It's been... forever.
MARK
And a day.
He stands up. She goes to kiss him on the cheek, but he
gives her a brief kiss on the lips.
ISABEL
How are you?
MARK
Things are good, can't complain.
How about you, I heard, you're married?
ISABEL
Not yet. Next month.
MARK
Well thank God, there's still time.
ISABEL laughs uncomfortably.
MARK
(continuing)
Who is he?
ISABEL
Jonathan. We were friends from Yale.
I think you met him a couple times.
MARK
Hmmm... I'm not sure. But I heard
he's, what, a banker?
ISABEL
He's a lawyer.
Mark grabs her hand to check out her ring, which is a good size.
MARK
Well, how does that feel?
ISABEL
Heavy.
She laughs.
ISABEL
(continuing)
It's really good. We're really
happy.
MARK
You going to move to the suburbs?
Get a couple of cars, a dog--
ISABEL
A darkroom, maybe.
MARK
What?
ISABEL
If we get a house.
MARK
Wow. So you're really doing this?
ISABEL
Yeah. I mean maybe not the suburbs,
that's still a point of conflict --
MARK
Well, sure, it would be hard to
keep that urban edge that's so
sharp in your work...I've been
following your work.
ISABEL
Yeah?
MARK
Well, Danny showed me a bunch of
stuff. It's really good.
She looks like his opinion matters.
ISABEL
Thank you. Thanks.
MARK
That's why I'm here actually. There's
this opportunity... you know I'm still
working for Snap, the magazine?
ISABEL
Of course.
MARK
Europe. The transition from Communism,
that kind of thing. They're putting together
this team, a couple photographers, a couple writers,
to travel around and you know, document. Anyway,
it's pretty cool and we just lost a photographer,
and I thought this might be your kind of bag.
ISABEL
It sounds amazing.
MARK
Yeah, so I suggested you, but I
didn't have your latest info, so I
decided to track you down.
ISABEL
Thanks. I'm definitely interested.
MARK
You should come by the Snap office
later today, meet some of the
people.
ISABEL
Sure. What time.
MARK
We're meeting around six.
ISABEL
Great. Let me just get the address.
She reaches into her bulging bag and
grabs a pen.
MARK
136 West 35th Street.
ISABEL can't find any paper and eventually pulls out a Bride magazine
and jots down the address on the magazine cover.
MARK
(continuing)
Nice. Ever thought of getting a
Palm Pilot?
ISABEL
I'm all set.
MARK
I'll see you later then.
ISABEL
Great. And Mark, thanks, for
thinking of me.
MARK
That's nothing. I think about you
all the time.
She blushes, smiles, and turns to go. She turns back. They
look at each other.
ISABEL
... Could I bum a cigarette?
He nods, gives her a cigarette and leans in close to light it.
