Riservato Per Felicita Reserved For Happiness

FADE IN:

1. INT. COFFEE SHOP – DAY

A vintage, ‘italian’ style boutique coffee shop. A large ceiling fan spins monotonously. An inaudible chatter of cafe quests. In a distance, a young female HOSTESS talks on phone. Her face is not visible.

She fiddles a ‘Reserved’ table sign in her fingers.

HOSTESS (B.S.)
– I repeat. For two. … Yes. Today. Of course. … No problem. … Happy to hear that. Grazie.

Detail: Though a spotless wine glass on the table, a busy street is visible.

2. EXT. ENTRANCE TO BRIDAL SALON – DAY

Old Town boutiques’ district. In the shade of tall trees, an entrance to the bridal gown salon with an illuminated facade. Through an entire wall-sized glass window, two women at the center of the salon are visible.

The BRIDE, wearing a white ‘Ball Gown’ silhouette wedding dress with no sleeves, standing on the stool. In front of a floor-to-ceiling mirror, Bride keeps exploring her reflection, tilts her head from to the side.

The DRESSMAKER bends over the Bride's skirt, the sleeves of the gown in her hand. The Bride slowly rotates around her axis, while the Dressmaker marks the underside of the skirt with needles.

Their inaudible dialogue is accompanied by Bride’s expressional hand gestures. In the reflection of the mirror, a Jeep pulls in front of the entrance door, climbs onto the sidewalk and parks in the empty parking lot next to the shop.

3. INT./EXT. ANTONIO'S JEEP – DAY

In a driver's seat – ANTONIO, a handsome man in his thirties. A loud pop music plays on the radio. Antonio moves to the rhythm of the tune, then releases a seat belt, bends down, opens the glove compartment and pulls out a tiny box of a black velvet.

Antonio straightens up and opens a lid of the box.

Inside, on a black velvet, 1.5 carat round cut diamond, mounted in a white gold engagement ring.

Antonio holds the box in his hand and looks at the sparkling diamond. In the ray of sunlight, the facets of the brilliant sprinkle bright rainbow prisms, creating a ‘Disco Ball’ effect on the of Antonio’s face.

Antonio smiles. Music is interrupted by the ringing of a mobile phone. An incoming call from ‘Mother’ appears on the display. Antonio takes a deep breath, and after three more beeps presses the green button with the empty hand.

MOTHER (ON THE PHONE)
– Ton-Ton? Where are you?

ANTONIO
– I’m little busy, Mom.

MOTHER (ON THE PHONE)
– I've phoned you three times. Three. Are you at home?

Antonio moves his focus from the ring to the bridal salon interior and women in it. The Dressmaker measures a sleeve on the Bride's arm.

ANTONIO
– Mom. I have errands.

MOTHER (ON THE PHONE)
– Well, you never listen to me…

ANTONIO
– Okay. Got the memo, Felice is not your piece of furniture.

In the street, a MAN, wearing a white tank top, and shorts passes. He walks a DOG on a leash. A Man stops at the bridal salon window.

The Dog smells the entrance step. The Dressmaker and The Bride watch as the Dog lifts its leg. The Man and the Dog keep moving.

MOTHER (ON THE PHONE)
– My personal preferences, in particular matter, are not of great significance or value. You know, it's important for me you be happy.

Antonio looks at his wristwatch.

ANTONIO
– Mom, I feel you've stuck your sticky 'happiness-meter' up in my ass and this bloody device transmits to you on a daily basis the virtues of my happiness. Come on, Ma!

MOTHER (ON THE PHONE)
– Well, do what you understand. I do not have to participate in this circus.

ANTONIO
– Mom. Hope, you sterilize this bliss before you pass it on?

MOTHER (ON THE PHONE)
– Ciao, Antonio.

ANTONIO
– Voila! Mom. I'm registering a patent. "A Wireless Happiness Meter". Mother?

A phone call hangs up and the music starts playing again. Antonio looks at the bridal salon. Now the Bride is wearing a different, a 'Mermaid' silhouette gown.

The music stops in favor of the news bulletin.

NEWS REPORTER (ON RADIO)
– A shocking tragedy in the North: A man was arrested on suspicion of stabbing his newlywed wife and her mother. A groom was arrested for murder and attempted murder during his wedding ceremony at his home in front of wedding guests. An eyewitness quote ‘It was atrocious. Definitely, the worst day in my life and I will be 85 next month’ end of quote. Police are investigating the details of this horrific wedding cere…

Antonio closes the box, puts it in his pocket, turns off the engine and opens the door.

4. EXT. ENTRANCE TO BRIDAL SALON – DAY

Antonio, wearing dark blue jeans, a white buttoned shirt,
and 'camper' shoes, locks the car. The beeping sound of the lock. Antonio checks his reflection in the mirror of a bridal salon. From inside the shop, the Dressmaker and the Bride look at Antonio.

Antonio kneels in front of the window, opens the box, and, in a mix of a pantomime and a sign language, asks a
permission to leave his car in the shop's parking lot. The Dressmaker laughs and nods.

Antonio smiles and shows a 'thumbs up' sign for the Bride's current 'Bohemia' silhouette dress.

The Bride draws a heart symbol in the air.

Women in the shop are smiling and watch Antonio turning his back. Whistling the pop tune from the radio, Antonio starts walking on the street, toward the coffee shop.

In front of Antonio, a BLACK CAT crosses the sidewalk.

5. EXT. A STREET NEXT TO COFFEE SHOP – DAY

A busy boulevard coffee shop. On the terrace, people chatting at the small coffee tables. Though the decorative shrubs, the coffee shop entrance is visible. Antonio approaches the entrance door.

6. INT. COFFEE SHOP – DAY

A romantic atmosphere of a boutique cafe’s-restaurant interior. All the tables, but one, are occupied.

Dim lighting, burning candles in the centers’ of tables. The sound mix of glasses’ clinking, kitchen noises, the sounds of waiters and the chuckling of customers. A quiet jazz music plays in the background.

A Hostess – a young woman, with long, loose hair, wearing a small black dress, walks between tables. Hostess stops at the square table by the window, sets down two sets of menus on the tablecloth, collects a ‘Reserved’ sign, turns to Antonio, smiling with a wide smile.

HOSTESS
– I hope you will like our special table.

ANTONIO
– It's perfect!

HOSTESS
– Enjoy your evening.

Antonio sits down on the chair facing the entrance door.
He looks at his wristwatch. An attractive WAITRESS, a young girl with a tattoo of Chinese hieroglyph on her lower back, approaches at Antonio's table.

WAITRESS
– Ciao! Would you like to order?

ANTONIO
– Hey, thank you. I'm waiting for someone.

WAITRESS
– Would you like a drink in the meantime?

ANTONIO
– Not right now. I'm happy.

WAITRESS
No problem, call me if you change your mind.

A MAN at the next table makes a sign for the Waitress, she smiles at Antonio and moves to the couple that summoned her. Antonio looks at his wristwatch again. He looks at the window.

7. EXT. A STREET NEXT TO COFFEE SHOP – DAY

Through the window of the coffee shop is visible as Antonio looks at his wristwatch and then looks around.

CUT TO:

Antonio looks at the phone. Clicks on the name ‘Felicita’, phone rings with the sound of a call waiting. Antonio puts the phone back on the table.

TIMELAPSE of people eat, pay bills and exchange with other people in the coffee shop. A clock on the wall makes a full turn.

8. INT. RESTROOMS AT COFFEE SHOP – EVENING



ANTONIO
– Beautiful ink.

The Waitress bites her lip.

ANTONIO (CONT’D)
– But not as much as you.

WAITRESS
– Thanks.

ANTONIO
– I once met someone with a tattoo like this.

WAITRESS
– Someone with ‘happiness’?

ANTONIO
– Huh? Happiness…

WAITRESS
– That’s a hieroglyph for ‘happiness’ in Chinese.

ANTONIO
– You do look like a happiness to me.

WAITRESS
Actually, mine is a ‘double happiness’…

ANTONIO
– Double? Huh… I need a closer look.

Antonio stands behind the Waitress, very close, and looks at her reflection in the mirror.

ANTONIO
Do you know what divided happiness is a real double one?

Antonio looks in the direction of the bathroom door.

WAITRESS
– Okay, but quickly, they’ll notice I'm missing.

ANTONIO
– Obviously, Baby…

Antonio grabs the Waitress's hand, while with the other – pushing the door of the bathroom stall open. A phone in Antonio's pocket rings. Antonio silences the phone without taking it out of a pocket and pulls the waitress over to him. The stall door shuts.

9. INT. COFFEE SHOP – DAY

Antonio walks to his table. A couple has occupied it.

‘OCCUPANT’
– Oh, I got an impression you left… So we relocated. But our table is empty now! Do you mind?
 
ANTONIO
– Not at all… Happy you liked my table. Enjoy!

Antonio sits down at empty round table. His mobile phone rings – incoming call from ‘Felicita’ appears on the display. Antonio presses the green button to ‘answer’.

ANTONIO
– Where are you?

Antonio looks at the Waitress on the other side of the cafe space.

FELICITA (ON THE PHONE)
– Sorry! I'm really, really sorry, my grandmother's sister called from Australia, I had to talk to her. The one I told you about her – who survived the Holocaust. She is lonely. I'm already on my way!

ANTONIO
– I thought something had happened. Yes, of course, I remember. Well, I'm here, bye!

FELICITA (ON THE PHONE)
– Are you at the table?

ANTONIO
– Well, of course I'm at the table. I know you do not like sitting at the bar.

FELICITA (ON THE PHONE)
Great, I especially ordered it! Kiss…

ANTONIO
– Kiss…

Antonio puts the phone on the table face down. A smiling Waitress brings a glass of water to his table.

TIMELAPSE of urban landscape – day and evening exchanges, streetlights turn on, illuminated windows appear, windows of coffee shop lit up.

Felicita comes in, a pretty girl of about thirty. Antonio immersed in his mobile phone. On the table is are cup of coffee and the remains of a cheese platter.
Felicita goes quickly without noise, from the other side of the table, behind Antonio's back. She covers Antonio's eyes with her palms. Antonio takes off her hands quickly and turns around with a poker face. A relief on the face when he sees Felicita.

ANTONIO
– Hey, baby.

Felicita bends down and kisses Antonio with her lips. She sits down on the chair opposite, puts her elbows on a table.

ANTONIO (CONT’D)
– How’s Helga? Her name is Helga, right?

FELICITA
What is this table?

ANTONIO
– Table? Seems to be the most standard. Wooden, iron foot. Height 90… Why?

FELICITA
– You do not notice it's a round table?!

ANTONIO
– Round. Totally round, Baby…

FELICITA
– This is not a table I ordered! Call for the waitress – I ordered a square table.

Felicita waves, the Waitress arrives.

WAITRESS
– Good evening! What would you like to order?

FELICITA
– I want a square table.

WAITRESS
…

FELICITA
– I can not eat on a round table.

WAITRESS
(turning her head in search of the Hostess)
– I will call a hostess.

A Waitress leaves the table.

ANTONIO
– Are you aware Chinese have a ‘double happiness’ hieroglyph…? They use it mostly for the wedding ceremonies. Shuangx;

FELICITA
– Incredible. I certainly mentioned that I wanted a square table. And that is not our place either. This service level is a disaster.

A Hostess arrives with a worried smile.

HOSTESS
– Good evening!

FELICITA
– Hey … Listen … why is this couple sitting at our table? This is the place I reserved. I also mentioned the number of the table and also explicitly said I did not want a round table. On a round table there is no place for two people and food. What is not clear?

HOSTESS
– I understood… I am very sorry – I do not have an available table at the moment. I can not move this couple… but I can pass you on after they leave – would you like to sit at the bar for the while?

Antonio looks at this phone all the time and writes a message. Writing and erasing.

FELICITA
– I do not think so.

A phone in Felicita's bag vibrates with a new message. Felicita searches for a phone in her bag.

10. EXT. A STREET NEXT TO THE CAFE – EVENING

Through a cafe window Antonio and Felicita sitting at the table and arguing. Antonio gets up and walks toward the exit.

CUT:

Felicita reads the message on the phone: "Two individuals addicted to happiness is way too many… There is no such thing as the 'double happiness.' Sorry,
Baby… ;;"

11. EXT. ENTRANCE TO BRIDAL SALON – DAY

On the sidewalk, sleeps an elderly man – Homeless. Next to him is a paper box with several coins and a cardboard sign scribbled 'Feel The Happiness'. Antonio passes by Homeless, stops, takes out a box of the ring and puts it next to coins inside the box. Homeless opens his eyes and sits down, Antonio keeps walking, Homeless opens the box.

Inside – instead of a ring – rolled banknotes. Felicita sits on the bench looking at the street, and the Homeless.

FADE OUT.

The End.