Basquiat Page #2

WAITRESS:

Gina. What'll it be?

BASQUIAT:

Pancakes.

She leaves and whispers something to Gina. Gina turns and glances

over at Jean.

Jean pours more syrup and starts writing his name.

At the grill, LESHKO, the burly Owner/Cook, has his watchful eye

on Jean. He doesn't like what he sees.

Jean smears the syrup thinly, so it doesn't erase itself. He draws

a picture of Gina, using his fingers and the silverware, rendering

her last expression strikingly with a few quick lines.

A GAUNT YOUNG MAN saunters up to Jean's table. He's sort of a

tall Puerto Rican Alain Delon with sleepy eyes. He is BENNY.

BENNY:

Hey – Willie Mays.

BASQUIAT:

Willie Mays.

Suddenly, Rene Ricard enters – a one-man parade. He beckons to

Gina, snapping his fingers.

RENE:

Nurse!!! Oh!!! Nurse!!! Carrot juice. Tofu

burger. Rapido!

GINA:

We don't serve that – amigo.

RENE:

Fine... A greasy cheeseburger. Fries – and

a vodka.

BASQUIAT:

(under his breath)

Who's that?

BENNY:

The Devil, man. Rene Ricard. Art critic –

writes for Artforum. People read him. Tell

him who you are..

BASQUIAT:

Who am I?

BENNY:

SAMO.

BASQUIAT:

Oh yeah..

Rene lands at the counter.

Jean's gaze is still on Gina.

She waits on a MAN at a nearby table.

CUSTOMER:

How's the special today?

GINA:

It's your stomach.

She hurries past Jean.

BASQUIAT:

Hey.

She slows down, not wanting to.

BASQUIAT (CONT'D)

What do you think?

She looks at her portrait in the syrup... She can't resist

smiling.

GINA:

It's me. I've never been done in maple

syrup. Here's a rag.

Gina smiles. She offers him one. As she holds it out, their eyes

lock. She tries to resist his smile.

BASQUIAT:

(gently)

Gina?

She puts her finger in the syrup and licks it off.

Benny takes it all in.

Leshko is upon them.

LESHKO:

Alright. Look at you, staring at this

girl, making a mess.

He waves Jean toward the door.

Jean takes Gina's rag and begins cleaning his mess, seemingly

compliant.

BASQUIAT:

How about those pancakes?

He brings out a roll of dimes to the tabletop and splits it open.

Dimes roll all over the table and stick in the syrupy parts. The

manager explodes.

LESHKO:

OK! Goodbye!

GINA:

Pipe down, Lech. Let him order.

LESHKO:

You nuts? Let him order? You on his side?

You're not such a good waitress. You get

out, too.

GINA:

I just don't think you're being fair.

LESHKO:

I need this?

GINA:

I need this?

Gina quietly removes her apron in disbelief.

Benny gets up to leave very casually.

BENNY:

(waving g'bye to Jean)

Willie Mays.

LESHKO:

(to Gina)

That's right. You go with them. Make

babies the government has to pay for.

CUT TO:

GINA AND JEAN:

Leave the restaurant.

Behind them, we see Rene, absorbed in his writing.

EXT. AVE. A – DAY

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