Time Has Told Me

By
Joey Guerrero
EXT - SAN PEDRO CRUISE SHIP PROMENADE - NIGHT
A parked taxi cab sits at the edge of the promenade, the
lights of the harbor twirl in the background.
A cup of coffee sits next to a half-eaten hot dog on the
roof of the taxi. JOHN, late 20’s, dark circles under his
eyes, relaxed demeanor, leans on the passenger-side door.

Few pieces of trash flutter around the lot.

John, lost in thought, draws a few scribbles in a
leather-bound notebook. The ocean breeze ruffles his hair.
EMILY, mid-20s, short hair, hands tucked into sleeves, holds
a DSLR camera in one hand. She’s at the edge of the
promenade, crouched down looking at some rocks.
JOHN (V.O.)
I’ve written nothing this month.

John, chewing on his pen, gazes into the distance.

JOHN (V.O.)
Nothing.
Emily leans down to look at the rocks with curiosity. She
grabs her camera, leans forward, and snaps a picture.
The harbor lights glimmer in the background, a container
ship slowly sails across the port. The sky is illuminated by
the orange lights of the refineries near the horizon.

INT - MEXICAN RESTAURANT - NIGHT

At a dinky, hole in the wall Mexican restaurant, underneath
the flashing rotating sign that advertises 24 hour fast
food, John sits at a empty table, eating a burrito.
John’s leather-bound notebook sits on the table, opened to a
page full of messy notes and scribbles. A two month old
newspaper can be clearly seen beneath the notebook.

"LOCAL NEWSPAPER SHUTS DOWN" is the headline.

John munches on his food.
On a notepad, sitting next to the leather-bound notebook, a
passenger sheet is visible. It follows a distinct pattern,
every day, at 8:00 pm, a passenger boards John’s taxi.
A family orders food from the pick-up order window. The
sizzling sound of meat blends with the ambiance.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

JOHN (V.O.)
There’s this girl I know.

EXT - BROADWAY AND PINE AVE - NIGHT

Emily stands near an empty bus stop in downtown Long Beach.

She’s dressed in a homely manner, an over-sized dark
sweater, a wool hat, and a camera bag across her chest.
She holds a cup of coffee with both hands, keeping it near
her face, taking solace in the warmness.
The chilly breeze spirals her breath upward.

INT - TAXI - NIGHT

John’s taxi pulls up. Emily opens the door. Inside the cab,
Emily gathers her things, making eye contact with John.
EMILY
Hey.

John nods, he turns the switch on the fare meter, it comes

to life in a cacophony of sounds.
JOHN (V.O.)
A quiet girl, the type that never
made a fuss about anything.
While looking at the rear-view mirror, John notices Emily
fiddling with her camera, a flash illuminates the cab.
John rests his arm outside the window. The display timer on
the dashboard lists the current time, 8:00 PM.

EXT - SHORELINE DRIVE - NIGHT

With the Queen Mary and the Rainbow Bridge in the
foreground, John’s taxi drives through Shoreline Drive.

INT - TAXI - NIGHT

John feels the breeze of the ocean flowing through his hair.
He glances at the rear-view mirror and notices Emily reading
a slick-looking magazine featuring photography.
Emily longingly looks at each photograph, admiring them.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

JOHN (V.O.)
The girl that never stood out.
She glances out the window, occasionally focusing back on
the magazine, while holding her camera nearby.

JOHN (V.O.)
Always seemingly somewhere else.
John continues driving, tapping a beat on the wheel.

Emily’s captivated by the shimmering lights with a wide,

starry-eyed gaze. She presses her forehead against the taxi
window, staring at the harbor in the distance.
JOHN (V.O.)
An excellent photographer, working
for a dying medium.
She reaches for her camera, adjusts the focal length, and
snaps a photograph. The shutter clicks a few times. Emily
looks down at the camera to review her photographs.

Underneath her open sweater, a press badge can be seen.

JOHN (V.O.)
Successful, yet humble.

EXT - SAN PEDRO CRUISE SHIP PROMENADE - NIGHT

John leans on the side-railing of the harbor promenade, his
gaze set on the harbor cranes and a passing ship in the
distance. The ocean splashes gently on the rocks below.

JOHN (V.O.)
I’m still adjusting to my new job,
dealing with all the customers.
The leather-bound notebook lies on the floor, near his shoe,
right next to an empty cup of coffee.
JOHN (V.O.)
They all have their own memorable
experiences, stories, events.

Wind blows the notebook open, some loose papers fly out.
JOHN (V.O.)
I’m surrounded by inspiration.
John leans over to grab the papers. The papers are rejection
letters from Random House, and Harper Collins.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

The two month old newspaper can be clearly seen.

He sighs before stuffing them back into the notebook.

EXT - BROADWAY AND PINE AVE - NIGHT

The streets of downtown Long Beach are quiet, the city
itself has gone to sleep. The lights from The Pike provide a
gentle background to the night sky. The ocean can be heard.

INT - TAXI - NIGHT

John drives down the quiet streets of the harbor, one hand
on the wheel, the other hand leaning outside the window.
JOHN (V.O.)
I knew Emily before the layoffs.
Emily wraps a rubber band around her fingers, she plays with
the shape, trying to pull off a few tricks with her hand.
JOHN (V.O.)
Her pictures complimented my words.
The rubber band snaps, hitting the back of John’s head.

Emily stares out the window in an attempt to hide her

laughter, her face illuminated by the harbor.
At a red light, the taxi cab comes to a stop. John yawns,
stretching his arms outward. He looks tired.

In the backseat, Emily enjoys her sandwich, she takes a

bite, closes her eyes, and smiles at the deliciousness.
JOHN (V.O.)
We’ve worked together on
everything.
She leans over the passenger seat to offer John a part of
her sandwich. John takes a bite and smiles.

EXT - SHORELINE VILLAGE JETTY - NIGHT

It’s a quiet evening at the Shoreline Village. The ocean is
calm, the breeze is gentle. A few couples enjoy a romantic
stroll near the harbor. A musician strums on his guitar.

John leans on the side of the taxicab, his gaze set on the
harbor lights in the distance. The ocean splashes on the
rocks nearby, a buoy gently bobs back and forward.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

JOHN (V.O.)
Probably the longest and most
meaning relationship I’ve ever had.
He takes a drink from his coffee, notebook in hand. A
half-eaten hot dog sits on the roof of the taxi.
JOHN (V.O.)
Working with her everyday.
John quickly glances at his watch while writing. It’s 8:03
PM. He realizes that he forgot to pick up Emily.
JOHN (V.O.)
Inseparable, almost.
He quickly opens the vehicle’s door, tosses the notebook on
the passenger-side seat, and drives off.
The half-eaten hotdog rolls off the roof.

EXT - TAXI - NIGHT

John smiles at Emily. She scowls at him.

Emily presses her head against the taxi window. She feels
the refreshing coldness of the temperature on her forehead.

JOHN (V.O.)
It’s like we’re married, except
there’s no romance involved.
John continues driving, he turns the dial on the radio to
change the station. He taps a beat on the steering wheel.

Emily adjusts her hair due to the window messing it up.

JOHN (V.O.)
Just friendship.

John leans over the backseat. Emily continues to scowl.

He pulls out a hand-made greeting card. It features terribly
drawn cats on the cover and the words "Happy Graduation."

Emily laughs.
 6.

EXT - TAXI (VINCENT THOMAS BRIDGE) - NIGHT

A little after midnight, the 710 freeway is peacefully
quiet. Save for the occasional 18 wheeler transporting
goods, there are few vehicles on the road.

In the distance, the harbor cranes flicker.

Driving down the freeway, John feels at peace with his
surroundings. He’s enjoying the drive, taking in the views.

JOHN (V.O.)
And understanding.
As the taxi approaches the Vincent Thomas Bridge, Emily
lowers the taxi window. A burst of fresh air flows through
her hair, she enjoys the feeling, a simple pleasure.

She pulls out her camera.

JOHN (V.O.)
A love for the harbor.

This is John’s favorite moment of the day.

EXT - TAXI (SAN PEDRO) - NIGHT

As the taxi enters San Pedro, Emily reviews the pictures on
the camera. John takes a drink from his coffee.
At the red light, Emily leans forward and shows John the
pictures she just took. John looks through her photographs.
JOHN
These are better than usual!
Emily blushes.
JOHN
I stumbled upon a new vantage point
the other day. You might enjoy it.
Emily looks down at her camera.
EMILY
Take me there.

She smiles.
 7.

EXT - SAN PEDRO CRUISE SHIP PROMENADE - NIGHT

A parked taxi cab sits at the edge of the promenade, the
lights of the harbor twirl in the background.

An empty can of soda sits next to a half-eaten hot dog and a

leather-bound notebook on the roof of the taxi.
Standing on the edge of the harbor, John leans on the
railing, his gaze set on the harbor lights.

JOHN (V.O.)
Maybe she’s my motivation?
Emily grabs the leather-bound notebook and leans on the
railing as well, mockingly gazing into the distance.

She breaks down in laughter.

EMILY
If you’re not gonna write, why
don’t you take a picture?

Emily hands John her camera.

Looking through the eyepiece, John lines up a shot. Emily
stands on her tip-toes, trying to look at the viewfinder.

John takes the picture.

They both look at the viewfinder to review the image. John
waits for Emily’s approval. She gives a thumbs up.

EXT - PACIFIC AND 12TH STREET - DAWN

The sun rises over the Pacific, the sky a beautiful mix of
colors with oil refineries and cranes toiling below. It’s a
quiet morning, palm trees sway in the gentle breeze.

Emily sits on the roof of the taxi, camera strapped around

her neck. John leans on the passenger door, coffee in hand.
John yawns and stretches his arms. He grabs the
leather-bound notebook and writes something.

Emily snaps a picture.

Annoyed, John glares at Emily. She smiles at him.
JOHN (V.O.)
I should write about her.

He smiles.