Exotic Robotica

Exotic Robotica

an original screenplay by Matthew Bissonnette

EXT.  new yorkdusk

In the distance is the city of New York in the year 2088 as the sun sets behind it. Now the city is full of futuristic looking skyscrapers which tower several miles over the streets of the city. Though on the streets are futuristic looking cars, flying between the buildings are air born cars which look like a sleek car but have four jet thrusters which propel them through the air. The surface of the skyscrapers have holographic advertisements playing on the entire body of the structures. In the center of the city is the Liberty Tower; the tallest building in the city which has an organic appearance and is nearly five miles tall.

EXT. street beneath  Liberty towerseconds later

A sidewalk in front of the gargantuan construct; at street level the pedestrians where fashionable clothing which has neon lights woven into the fabric. At ground level though, the streets seem strewn with liter and a discarded newspaper blows about in the wind along the sidewalk. Then a man who is dressed in a suit with luminous fabric stops and looks up at the liberty tower looming over him. Then an advertisement plays on the surface of the tower and its audio booms out of the sky.

Companion X-R7 advertisement

A petite woman dressed in old fashioned clothing sits alone on a park bench in central park. Then the announcer speaks over the scene.

announcer

Tired of being alone?

Then a handsome man dressed in a suit sits beside her and they look at each other then embrace.

Now a man dressed in old fashioned clothing is sitting at his kitchen table eating dinner alone.

 

ANNOUNCER

Still can't find someone to share your life with?

Then a attractive woman in a dress sits at the table with him and they lock eyes and smile.

Now a man, Felix Trent, is looking at the camera. He is a slim man in a suit with luminous fabric; he has glasses and slicked back hair.

Felix Trent

Now you never have to be alone again.

Now the handsome man and attractive woman walk into frame and stand to either side of Felix.

FELIX TRENT

Now you can have your ideal fantasy, your deepest wishes and your perfect companion. The Mantel Corporations robotic Companion X-R7 will mean you will never have to be alone again.

EXT. STREET BENEATH  LIBERTY TOWERSECONDS LATER

The man and several other pedestrians look up at the holographic advertisement dominating the sky over them as Felix's voice booms from above.

FELIX TRENT

Not the real thing but you'll never be able to tell the difference.

Then the man and the pedestrians walk on.

EXT. Sunnyvale Alaskamorning

In the farthest Northern part of Alaska is Sunnyvale; a small town that seems far removed from this futuristic world; a rustic town of ramshackle homes lost in an arctic wilderness. Cars rumble along main street as snow falls from the sky.

INT. funeral parlor seconds later

A funeral parlor. There are several rows of unoccupied chairs, there are candles glowing softly from holders on the walls; the room has dark colors. Two men, dressed in dark suits, stand and are looking at a closed funeral casket and are completely alone; both are silent for several moments. To the left is Calvin Smith; Calvin is a man with a slim build; and blond hair; his expression seems to be blank though something in his eyes seemed troubled. Beside him is his brother Jake Smith; younger who is smaller with dark hair. They are silent for awhile until Jake speaks.

Jake smith

Surprised you actually had the nerve to come here.

Calvin frowns.

Calvin smith

Just paying my last respect to our grandfather.

Jake looks at him.

JAKE SMITH

Fuck you Calvin, I mean fuck you, you heartless bastard.

Calvin looks blankly at Jake.

JAKE SMITH

You and the old man where close, a hell of a lot closer then you where to our actual father; and you just run off to New York and never even called the old man once.

CALVIN SMITH

You know why I left. I was just making it easier for everybody.

JAKE SMITH

You and grand dad where the same guy; both of you like you just stepped out of a time machine from two centuries ago. He practically raised you in this town on the edge of the world and you just piss of and turned your back on him.

Calvin turns and walks towards the doors, Jake looks at him leave.

CALVIN SMITH

She was your mother to, I thought you would understand.

JAKE SMITH

Get over it, how many times does Dad have to say sorry for something that happened over ten fucking years ago.

Calvin stops but does not look at him.

JAKE SMITH

He screwed up. But even if you could care less about Dad, why did you turn you back on the old man to.

CALVIN SMITH

I had to get away from this place, somewhere nothing like here.

JAKE SMITH

You are an asshole Calvin, you know the old man squirreled away a small fortune since like you he lives like it is still 1999.

Calvin looks over his shoulder at him.

JAKE SMITH

And the old man told me to tell you on his death bed that he is leaving it all to you and just to ask that you don't hate him.

Jake then walks towards Calvin.

JAKE SMITH

That is why I told you to fuck yourself; the old man thought you hated him to.

Calvin says something as Jake walks past.

CALVIN SMITH

But that is not true.

Jake then walks towards the doors and stops, says something, then goes through them.

JAKE SMITH

Does it matter, because he believed it. Your hurt him you selfish prick, do the right thing and take the money so at least he can feel he helped you out if he is watching over us right now. Now I'm going back to Anchorage and I never want to see you, you selfish, merciless asshole again.

Jake then walks through the doors leaving Calvin alone. Calvin then turns back to the casket.

EXT.  Alaskanoon

A stretch of wilderness in Alaska, the scene begins in the sky looking down. Then the scene descends in goes into the Earth itself as dirt obscures the image.

INT.  magnetic transport lineseconds later

Beneath the Earth is a gigantic tunnel through the ground, it has metallic walls and a monorail track running along the bottom. Since inside it is a vacuum the scene is deathly silent. Then a light appears much father down the tube then a shuttle, a sleek looking craft races towards the camera going several times the speed of sound.

INT. transport shuttleseconds later

Inside is rows of cushioned seats with a isle going up the middle. There is no cockpit but only the cabin which now has many passengers; Calvin is among them. All the passengers are dressed in clothes which either have neon lights sewn into the fabric or the fabric itself is giving off a luminescent shimmering. Calvin sits in a seat, now dressed in a brown suit which seems old fashioned. A slightly obese man in a neon light suit sits beside him; the balding sweaty man is Paul. Paul is looking towards the front of the cabin; a window shows the tunnel ahead. Calvin looks towards the ground for a moment then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box; when he opens it he looks at the expensive gold wedding ring inside. Paul then notices.

Paul

Who is the lucky woman?

Calvin closes the box and puts it back in a pocket then looks away.

CALVIN SMITH

Just a woman I know.

PAUL

That looks like real gold. Must of cost you a fortune; since almost every trace of gold left has been horded since they are essential for those zero point generators that power everything.

CALVIN SMITH

Do you have a point?

Paul grins the laughs.

PAUL

I can tell from the suit. You are one of those technophobes, who want to live in the past.

Calvin frowns and looks away.

CALVIN SMITH

A man once told me that the reason for many of the worlds problems is machines; why pay a real person a decent wage when a robot will do it for free.

Paul looks to the window.

PAUL

Maybe; but before things got like this you could not get from Anchorage Alaska to Manhattan in less then forty minutes.

INT.  MAGNETIC TRANSPORT LINESECONDS LATER

The shuttle races away from the camera and vanishes in the distance in a minute.

EXT.  NEW YORKnight

New York in the distance, the light from the holographic projections all over the city are reflected in the dark waters of the river which surrounds the city.

EXT. queenslater

Later in the night. The Queens region of Manhattan is now a series of tall, faceless apartment complexes which tower over the streets. Cars race along the streets and are going over a hundred miles an hour in several lines of traffic. But when a car comes to a stop the whole line of traffic stops immediately and the stopped car rolls sideways of its spherical wheels then parks and the line of traffic again resumes racing past. A large bus, a sleek looking vehicle races down the street then stops as does the whole line of traffic. The doors open and Calvin gets out. Once he is one the sidewalk and traffic resumes racing past. He looks up at a gloomy building which towers over him. He then seems to ready himself and he goes through the double front doors. The doors openly automatically and a electronic voice speaks out.

electronic voice

Biometrics confirmed tenant 4278, welcome home.

INT. Calvin's apartmentseconds later

A small apartment. The walls are sterile white and seemed to be made of a synthetic plastic. There is a small kitchen yet the only appliances are a small cooking device which looks like a microwave and a small old fashioned fridge, there is a wooden kitchen table. Then there is a glimpse of the bedroom, just a old fashioned bed covered with sheets and a oak dresser. Then there is a image of the living room. A woman, Natasha, sits on a old couch and is looking at the front door there is a window to one side of the room. She is dressed in a sweater and skirt and has glasses and red hair done up into a bun. Beside her on the ground is a suitcase. She looks at the front door, just a white panel which then opens by sliding up. Calvin walks through and the door closes behind him. He looks at her then at the suitcase. He then frowns and seems saddened.

CALVIN SMITH

I see you have a suitcase, you are leaving?

Natasha nods.

Natasha

We both knew this had to happen.

CALVIN SMITH

Why?

Natasha gets up and picks up her suitcase.

NATASHA

If I had to tell you then there is no point in explaining it.

CALVIN SMITH

I can change.

NATASHA

I told myself that two years ago.

CALVIN SMITH

We can live a good life, a better place, I have over two million credits in my account.

Natasha walks towards him with the suitcase.

NATASHA

If we got that place, the problem would still be there.

As she walks past, he reaches for her hand.

CALVIN SMITH

I love you Natasha.

She stops but pulls her hand away.

NATASHA

I loved you Cal, but that was before I finally realized that you are just to troubled for me to ignore. I need a man who does not always have the same grim dark cloud constantly over him, a man who knows how to be like everyone else.

She then walks towards the door and it slides open. She stops and looks over her shoulder at him.

NATASHA

Don't hate me Cal, because I don't hate you. I just can't give you what you need.

CALVIN SMITH

And what do I need?

She says something before she goes out the door and it slides shut.

NATASHA

Someone who can love Calvin Smith despite all his problems.

Calvin looks at the door silently for a moment then pulls out the box with the ring inside. He opens the box and looks at the ring then throws it away and yells.

CALVIN SMITH

God damn it!

INT. CALVIN'S APARTMENTLATER

Calvin sits on the couch and watches television, just a gigantic holographic screen built into the far wall. It shows and image of a man and woman, both attractive and in the luminous clothing, holding hands and walking down a beach. Calvin looks away and speaks up.

CALVIN SMITH

Off.

The images vanishes.

INT. CALVIN'S APARTMENTmorning

Calvin is sitting at a table in the kitchen as he eats a bowl of cereal. He is dressed in a blue security guards uniform and he looks at the empty chair across from him. He stops eating and drops his spoon. He then gets up and walks towards the front door.

EXT.  central parkday

Central park looks much the same as it did in the past, tree's, woods and fields as well as a pond. But the paths have small blinking lights along the sides. A young man, with spiked blue hair and dressed in black clothing; walks along drinking from a carton. He finishes and throws it off the path onto the grass. The Calvin appears, walks up behind the man and speaks up, Calvin is holding a small hand held scanner.

CALVIN SMITH

Since the act of 2068 which mandated the preservation of Central Parks natural environment; you will be fined seventy five credits for either going or discarding something off the designated path.

The man stops and spins around the face him. Calvin raises the scanner and it emit a small light which covers the young man's face. Calvin looks at the scanner.

CALVIN SMITH

Your biometrics have just been scanned and the fine has already been deducted from your account.

the young punk gives Calvin the finger.

young punk

Go fuck yourself you pathetic shit. Why don't they just get a robot to replace you Park Guards finally.

Calvin scowls at him, then steps over the edge of the path, picks up the carton and says something as he walks away.

CALVIN SMITH

They still have not invented a robot that can talk correctly with people.

YOUNG PUNK

Before you park Nazi's, you could actually have fun in Central Park!

Calvin stops and looks at the man again.

CALVIN SMITH

I'm just doing my job sir.

YOUNG PUNK

Your nothing but some glorified garbage man!

Calvin walks away as the punk gives him the finger again.

INT. CALVIN'S APARTMENTdusk

Calvin sits at the kitchen table eating a meal as he looks at the empty chair across from him, still dressed in his uniform. Outside the window the sun is setting behind the skyline of the city. He stops and just frowns as he looks at the empty chair. He then drops the fork and pushes the meal away from him. He gets up and walks to the door and leaves.

EXT. STREET BENEATH  LIBERTY TOWERnights

Calvin is walking along the sidewalk towards the looming tower, all around him is the chaotic jumble of holographic ads on the sides of buildings. Yet he has his hands in his pockets and looks solemnly at the ground as pedestrians pass him. Then he walks beneath the Liberty Tower as the announcer of the Companion X-R7 add speaks loudly from above.

ANNOUNCER

Tired of being alone?

Calvin stops and looks up. Though we can not see the add, the sound is booming down from the sky.

ANNOUNCER

Still can't find someone to share your life with?

The only image from the advertisement which is briefly seen is the man sitting alone at his kitchen table, then a image of Calvin looking up at the holographic lights as the voice of Felix Trent echoes out from the night.

FELIX TRENT

Now you never have to be alone again.

Calvin then looks off into the distance. He nods then walks on.

INT. Mantel corporation's new headquartersmorning

Inside a vast room is the headquarters of the Mantel Corporation in the Liberty Tower and the front is the door to an elevator. Inside glass tubes are robotic companions which are not activated; they are either really attractive men or women in old fashioned clothing. Along the wall to one side is a vast glass window; on the other side is an assembly line of robotic arms and other devices. Behind two desks are two salesmen; Hank and Jeremy. Both are dressed in shimmering suits and seemed well groomed. They both look bored. Jeremy looks at the other man.

Jeremy

Another exciting day at the Mantel Company.

Hank leans back in his chair and puts his feet up on the desk.

hank

The guy who owns the company, Trent, he must of known the companions where out of the price rage of 99% of most Americans.

JEREMY

Since this god damn things go for a million and a half credits and we get a ten percent commission, I wish I where in either Europe or Asia. The companions have been selling like hot cakes in those parts of the world.

HANK

Thanks to our government funded education system, most people these days are not smart enough to tie their own shoes.

JEREMY

That is why America's economy is in the shitter.

HANK

The guy who owns this place, Trent, heard he is from the Bronx. How the hell does some guy from the biggest shit hole in this country become the richest man in America?

Jeremy laughs.

JEREMY

I don't know, guess he got lucky. I hear he is a real asshole.

Then the elevator doors open and Calvin, in his guard uniform, walks out and looks around. Jeremy looks at him the sighs.

JEREMY

Great, our first customer in a week and he looks to poor to get me my commission.

HANK

He is dressed like a City Meter Maid.

JEREMY

I deal with it.

Jeremy gets up and walks towards Calvin then they face each other.

JEREMY

Fella, the shopping district on the first twenty floors of the Liberty Tower are probably where you meant to go.

Calvin looks unsure of what to say for a moment then speaks.

CALVIN SMITH

I want to buy one of those robotic companions.

JEREMY

Do you have 1.5 million credits pal?

CALVIN SMITH

A quick biometric scan will confirm that I have the money.

Jeremy looks at Calvin then pulls out a scanner from a pocket of his suit, it flashes a light on Calvin's face and Jeremy looks at the scanner. Jeremy then grins.

JEREMY

Guess you won the lottery or got rich on a frivolous law suit.

CALVIN SMITH

Can we just make this quick.

JEREMY

One thing, there is no return policy.

CALVIN SMITH

Why?

JEREMY

Because your companion will be designed to your specific specifications as well as the fact that its artificial intelligence algorithmic will be locked onto your voice.

CALVIN SMITH

What does that mean?

JEREMY

Your toaster will be useless to anyone but you after activation.

CALVIN SMITH

Toaster?

JEREMY

Company inside joke. We call it the toaster that you have sex with.

Calvin looks away. Jeremy notices.

JEREMY

I give you some advice. If you are looking for a companion you can talk to, find a real woman. We may call these things companions; but their really just a very advanced sex toy.

Calvin looks at him.

CALVIN SMITH

Can she talk?

JEREMY

So a woman. In all honesty, the companions speech function is very basic.

CALVIN SMITH

Can I talk to her?

JEREMY

A little. Sure you want a companion?

CALVIN SMITH

Yes.

Jeremy then hits a button on his scanner and a holographic screen appears between them with a basic human shape of a woman with no features.

JEREMY

What are you looking for appearance wise?

CALVIN SMITH

I don't really care.

Jeremy shrugs.

JEREMY

We have a random appearance option for the indecisive. But once you pick a appearance then its outer organic encasing will be put on a robotic chassis and that is all she wrote.

CALVIN SMITH

Just do it.

Jeremy touches a section of the hologram screen. Then the image of a woman's form begins to flicker and become scrambled then takes the form of a petite brunette with shoulder length hair and a hourglass figure. She looks and is dressed like a actress from a old, black and white Hollywood movie. Calvin stares at he image.

CALVIN SMITH

That is fine.

JEREMY

Usually men want a woman who requires a bra size the physics would make impossible.

CALVIN SMITH

Why is she dressed like that?

JEREMY

Oh, you mean a hundred years to late? Felix Trent, the guy who invented it; we'll he is old fashioned in some ways I hear; a gossip program says he is a technophobe. He insisted all Companions be initially dressed like someone from the Bronze age.

CALVIN SMITH

Now what?

JEREMY

Now you just give it a name. Once she is constructed, the first person to address it by that name will be the only one to give it orders.

Calvin seems to think.

CALVIN SMITH

I'm not sure what to name her.

JEREMY

I knew an Alicia once, how about that.

Calvin nods.

CALVIN SMITH

That is fine.

Jeremy hits some projected buttons on the holographic screen. He then looks at Calvin.

JEREMY

OK, if I finish the order, you are stuck with it.

CALVIN SMITH

I'm sure.

Jeremy sighs then hits a holographic button. Jeremy then turns to the glass wall and manufacturing line on the other side.

JEREMY

Want to watch it get put together?

Calvin looks away.

CALVIN SMITH

I would rather not.

JEREMY

OK, go to the elevator; it will take you up one floor where you will receive your purchase.

Calvin walks towards the elevator and goes in, the doors close. Jeremy and Hank then walk up to the window and watch the manufacturing process. The robotic arms then begin to retrieve four steel robotic limbs and attach them to a steel silver torso.

JEREMY

That guy was one of those poor sad sacks, as we say in the company.

Another arm appears with a riveter on it and begins to put bolts into the robot. Hank laughs.

HANK

The poor asshole is going to fall in love with the toaster.

Then another arm holding a robotic head with glowing eyes and lights all over it puts it on the robotic torso and the riveter bolts it on. Jeremy laughs deeper.

JEREMY

That will go away after it asks him if he likes rainbows for the millionth time.

HANK

You know the robotic chassis was original meant for industrial mining, apparently some guy in Australia was having sex with a defective companion and, bam, he is a quadriplegic. The Mantel Corporation had to pay to have his spinal cord replaced with a artificial one.

Then robotic arms with hoses appear and begin to spray the robot with a pink, fleshy looking liquid. Hank and Jeremy look at each other.

JEREMY

This asshole is going to be pissed when he finds out he just blew a fortune for something that has about the same conversational ability as a average door greeter algorithm.

HANK

Fuck him, buyer beware.

Then they both laugh deeply.

INT. One floor upseconds later

A small room with no windows, blue walls and a metal door across from the entrance to the elevator. Calvin is standing in front of the door and seems anxious. Then the door slides up and standing on the other side is Alicia; now appearing just like in the holographic image; in a sweater and skirt and with her eyes closed. Calvin looks at her for a few moments then speaks.

CALVIN SMITH

Alicia?

A few moments pass and she opens her eyes. She has really expressive, deep blue eyes and she looks at him. They look at each other in silence for a few moments till Calvin speaks.

CALVIN SMITH

I'm Calvin.

She looks at him and speaks with a soft voice.

Alicia

Do you like the rain Calvin?

Calvin looks at her for a moment then nods.

CALVIN SMITH

Actually, for some reason I prefer it when it rains. I don't know why.

They just look at each other.

CALVIN SMITH

Let's go home.

He walks towards the elevator as she follows.

INT. elevatormoments later

Both Calvin and Alicia stand in the elevator as it descends, behind them is a glass window which shows the city miles below as it descends quickly. He then briefly looks at her then looks away.

EXT. STREET BENEATH  LIBERTY TOWERmoments later

The street in front of the Liberty Tower. Lines of traffic speed along the street and pedestrians walk past the large front doors to the building. Near the front doors is a crowd of a few people. A man, Adam, is dressed in an old fashioned suit and is a somewhat weaselly looking man wearing a sign which reads, Fear Technology. Then he begins to rant.

Adam

We all now that technology is responsible for this dark age in which we all live. The Church of Unity teaches that the devil is using robotic monstrosities to lead all of us into hell.

Then the doors to the Liberty tower open and Calvin walks out followed by Alicia. He looks towards the street.

CALVIN SMITH

A bus will be along shorty.

Alicia then looks to Adam and just stares at him as he rants.

ADAM

Those who forsake our creator to find comfort and fulfillment through technological or robotic abominations will be thrown into a lake of fire for eternity.

Calvin notices her looking at he speaks up.

CALVIN SMITH

Don't worry about him Alicia, he is just a member of a church that is trying to convince everyone that technology is evil.

She just watches him rant.

ADAM

Evil has many temptations to lead you astray, and technology is evil's tool. Give your faith to the creator and reject all the devil's lies.

Calvin is looking at her.

CALVIN SMITH

There are not many members of that Church this far North.

Then a bus appears and comes to a stop in front of the tower as does the whole line of traffic. The doors to the bus open and reveal there is no driver. Calvin gets up onto the bus but Alicia still looks at Adam.

ADAM

Fear this evil which has fallen on us all.

Calvin looks at her.

CALVIN SMITH

Follow me.

She then looks at him, gets on the bus and the doors close. Then the bus speeds off as the line of traffic once again continues.

INT.  busmoments later

Inside it looks like an ordinary bus. People either sit in seats or stand in the aisle. Calvin and Alicia are sitting and he looks out the window beside him. Alicia just looks blankly again.

INT. CALVIN'S APARTMENTDUSK

Outside the living room window, the sky darkens as night begins to fall. Then the front door opens and Calvin walks in followed by Alicia and the door closes behind them. He turns to look at her.

CALVIN SMITH

This is home.

Alicia looks at him. They stare at one another for a moment then she begins to take off her sweater, but he stops her and she looks at him.

CALVIN SMITH

I didn't get you for that Alicia, actually, I just never wanted to be alone in this apartment again like I used to.

He then takes her hand and leads her to the living room and they stand in front of the couch.

CALVIN SMITH

Please sit.

She sits then so does he and they look at each other.

CALVIN SMITH

I know you are not a real woman, but I would like you to act as if you where. I don't like giving you orders, so I won't make many.

ALICIA

Do you like it when the sun sets Calvin?

He nods.

CALVIN SMITH

Dusk is actually my favorite time of the day.

Then they look at each other in silence.

EXT.  NEW YORKDUSK

New York in the distance as the sun sets behind the futuristic city.

INT. CALVIN'S APARTMENTLATER

It is night beyond the kitchen window. Alicia sits alone at the kitchen table. Then Calvin enters the room holding a box to a jigsaw puzzle. He sits at the table with her and places the box on the table.

CALVIN SMITH

I thought we might do a puzzle together. That's what my grandparents used to do when I was young. But my last relationship, well she did not like doing them.

He opens the box and dumps the puzzle pieces onto the table. He then begins to sort them.

CALVIN SMITH

First you have to find the edge pieces.

He picks up an edge piece and shows it to her.

CALVIN SMITH

Like this.

She then begins to sort through then picks up a edge piece. Calvin nods.

CALVIN SMITH

Exactly.

Then they both sort through the pile in silence.

INT. CALVIN'S APARTMENTLATER

Later in the night. Calvin and Alicia have completed the four sides of the puzzle. He talks as he puts it together.

CALVIN SMITH

This is not really about doing a puzzle, just a good way for us to talk.

She just looks at him as he looks down at the puzzle.

CALVIN SMITH

Hard to find a place that sells puzzles these days, but I know this little shop in Greenwich Village which specializes in goods made a long time ago.

ALICIA

Do you like technology?

Calvin looks at her for a moment then down at the table and puzzle.

CALVIN SMITH

My grandfather always told me that the world was better when he was young, he said it was a simpler and better time. He said that technology was responsible for many of the countries problems.

Alicia just looks at him.

ALICIA

Do you like me Calvin?

Calvin looks at her and nods.

CALVIN SMITH

I like you.

He then looks down and continues the puzzle.

CALVIN SMITH

And you'll never stop liking me since you are programmed to like me no matter what.

He then puts the final puzzle piece into the puzzle and now it is revealed that it is a puzzle of a forest at night. Then they look at each other.

CALVIN SMITH

Every time we finish a puzzle, we'll frame it and put it on the wall. We'll try to do one at least once a night.

INT. CALVIN'S APARTMENTLATER

Alicia sits on the couch and is looking up at Calvin who stands before her.

CALVIN SMITH

I need to sleep before I go into work in the morning. Please, do as you want. I'll talk to you in the morning.

Calvin then goes through the bedroom door and it closes. The scene is still for awhile when Alicia turns and looks out the window. After several moments a bird, a Blue Jay, lands on the ledge beyond the window. She just stares at the bird in silence for awhile.