EXT. PORCH HOUSE BY THE SEA - DAY

John climbs the few steps to the front door. His skin is sunburned, water droplets run down his back from his hair. He puts the fishing rod down in front of the bell, next to the bag of live bait. Finally he leaves the bucket empty. He takes off his shoes and obsessively rubs his feet in the white T-shirt until every single grain of sand falls on the wooden planks.

INT. HOUSE BY THE SEA - DAY

Clutching the shirt as it disappears in his hands, he briskly moves towards the bathroom, where he kicks open the washing machine door and tosses the shirt inside. He adds the white dress left on top of the appliance, then closes with a push and turns the crank to start it, calculating with his eyes the amount of detergent poured into the appropriate drawer. As he watches the clothes begin to spin, the doorbell gets John's attention. Before opening, line up the frames with the photos of him and Lilith.

INT. EXT. PORCH HOUSE BY THE SEA - DAY

On the porch he finds a man with a basket of dirty laundry.

​

ANTONY

I'm Anthony. Is Lilith home?

She said I can use the washing machine.

​

JOHN

When did she tell you you could use it?

​

ANTONY

I met her while walking on the rocks.

She was touching her foot, so I thought she was hurt.

(amused) But she hates the feeling of the sand 

between her toes. Is she at home?

​

JOHN

She is resting. The washing machine

is already on anyway.

What's wrong with yours?

​

ANTONY

It has been leaking water for days.

Lilith offered to take a look and see
if she can find the problem.

'Jo doesn't do well with screwdrivers,' she said.

But apparently you know how to fish;

she invited me to dinner,

apparently fish would be enough for all three of us.

​

JOHN

Turbulent waters today.

We'll eat yesterday's leftovers.

You can leave your clothes here

and pick them up tomorrow.

​

John takes the basket from Antony's hands and places it next to the bag of worms.

ANTONY

What a pity. Lilith will see

that burned skin of yours

and she will understand

how patient you have been

even if you came back empty handed.

​

Giovanni watches the pink lures writhe, then Antonio's mouth opens again.

ANTONY

Let's make a deal: I'll bring you

the frozen fish I caught last week,

and while we have dinner we will wait

for my clothes to finish washing.

She won't notice the difference, you'll see.

​

John hears a creak from upstairs, and shuts the door, with Antony motionless behind the crack. His gaze switches from the clock to the calendar hanging above Lilith's desk, which marks the fifth day of the week. He withdraws the door towards him, and looks at the laundry, then at the empty bucket. The sea behind Antony is flat as a table.

​

JOHN

Lilith will be awake in an hour.

​

Antony takes the basket of clothes off the floor and hands it to John. Grains of sand fall at his feet, scattering the floor inside.

​

ANTONY

I'll go and come back. Want to come with me?

I can teach you a secret or two

about fishing as we go.

​

JOHN
No. I have to sweep.

​

​

Written by Narce Eval