28Dec/08Off
More Scenes from LA
ANDREW and SIMON sit at a well-lit, modern bus stop, waiting.
Next to them sits a YOUNG BLACK MAN with a white pullover and hood. He has a long scraggly beard, holds a paperback with Hebrew on the front and a tube, gift-wrapped in African-designs.
An overweight MIDDLE-AGED MAN approaches. His head is shaven, and he sports a small mustache, a single loop earring, white t-shirt and denim shorts.
- Do any of you have any cigarettes?
- Sorry, we don't smoke.
- Nobody smokes any more. The whole country's changing!
He sighs and turns to survey the black man.
- You look like a foreigner-- where are you from?
- I am Egyptian.
- Oh. The only Egypt person I know is that king... Tutanko...uh...komeni?
- Tut Ankh Amon.
(aside, to Middle-Aged Man)
- I think he's a different kind of Egyptian.
(in clear American English)
- NO!
He pulls back his hood to reveal hair styled like an Egyptian head-dress, and slides his left sleeve up to show an arm tattooed to the wrist with intricate, full-colored hieroglyphic-like designs.
(cont.)
- I am a direct descendant of the Pharoahs. My bloodline goes back five thousand years!
- What's your name?
- Tut Ankh Mose
- Well, have a happy holiday. Maybe we'll meet again!
- Oh, yes, we will.
