Smoke and Mirrors

INT. CROWDED BAR - NIGHT Hordes of football fans gather around the bar, stand between tables. The nighttime rain clings to the windows. MAYA HITORO takes a sip of her beer, scans the room. She meets the gaze of PETER REYNARD, who offers her a small smile and raises his own beer to her. They both wear red shirts.

Maya knits her brow slightly.

A beat. Peter begins navigating the crowd to reach Maya.

PETER You having a good time?

CHEERS erupt throughout the bar.

MAYA What?!

Peter leans in. Maya meets her own gaze in the mirror behind the bar.

PETER Are you having a good time?

Maya shrugs.

PETER (cont'd) You wanna get out of here?

Maya meets his gaze, seeing her own face reflected back at her in his eyes.

MAYA Yeah. Let's go home.

INT./EXT. PETER'S CAR - NIGHT Rain pours down, DRUMS against the windshield. Peter navigates a winding road surrounded by forest. Headlights barely illuminate the road as they enter a foggy area. Peter huffs. Maya immediately turns to look at him.

PETER Don't look at me like that.

MAYA I'm not looking at you like anything.

PETER Yes, you are. You weren't having fun, so I had to leave early.

2.

MAYA You asked me if I wanted to get out of there. You -Maya turns away from him, crosses her arms. Her eyes well up.

A beat. Peter glances at her just as a tear falls down her cheek.

PETER I -MAYA Stop!

PETER I -- what?

Maya points at the road ahead. A deer blocks their path.

Peter swerves to avoid it.

The car hits a patch of water -- skids -- leaves the road -hits a tree -- the air bags EXPLODE. CUT TO: BLACK INT. CROWDED BAR - NIGHT Maya sips her beer. She looks down at her clothes. She picks a piece of red lint from her white shirt. Across the room, Peter stands with a couple of his friends. One friend gestures in Maya's direction. Peter shakes his head. His other friend begins walking toward Maya -- Peter grabs the back of his shirt and pulls him backward. They exchange a look. Peter approaches Maya. When he reaches her, she's watching the TV above her. A beat. Peter clears his throat.

PETER Hey. MAYA (without looking at him) That's what you're going with? (meets Peter's gaze) You've been staring at me all night, and you go with "Hey?" PETER Um...

3.

MAYA I'm just messing with you.

PETER I thought about going with "Howdy, partner."

He tips his baseball cap at her. Maya resists a chuckle.

MAYA That doesn't work with that hat and your white polo shirt.

PETER I figured. (a beat) I'm Peter.

He extends his hand. Maya shakes his hand. She grabs it with her other hand then examines his palm.

MAYA Are you a weight lifter or a baseball player?

PETER I -- uh -- I guess both.

MAYA Hm. I don't date jocks. So you should probably get outta here.

Maya stands, tosses some money on the table. She grabs a bag from under her seat, revealing a tennis racket handle. She walks around the corner. Maya pauses to adjust her appearance in the mirror. Peter rounds the corner. Maya meets his gaze in through his reflection.

MAYA (cont'd) I'm glad you knew I was joking.

MATCH CUT TO: INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - DAY Maya brushes her hair. Peter wraps his arms around her waist. Maya turns to look at him.

Maya reaches up to touch Peter's face. They kiss.

4.

INT./EXT. PETER'S CAR - NIGHT Their lips part. Peter tucks a strand of Maya's hair behind her ear.

PETER I like you.

Maya smiles.

A moment later, Peter and Maya exit the car. They walk handin-hand to Maya's front door.

INT. MAYA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Maya sits on her bed. She smiles to herself. She covers her face then falls backward on the mattress.

INT. CROWDED BAR - NIGHT Maya rubs her face. She scans the room. She pulls out her phone and types a text: "Where are you?"

Similar messages precede it: "Are you here?" "Did you leave already?" "I miss you." "I thought you were going to call me." "Peter?"

She places her phone face down on the table then finishes off her drink.

EXT. TENNIS COURT - DAY Maya is demonstrating a proper backhand to her friend FAITH then straightens up.

FAITH Have you heard from Peter yet?

Maya unlocks her phone. The most recent message from Peter is: "Sorry. I was busy at work." Maya's to Peter: "Are you still coming tomorrow?"

MAYA No. She tucks her phone in her bag.

MAYA (cont'd) It's been a couple days.

5.

FAITH Days?!

Maya nods uncertainly.

FAITH (cont'd) When's the last time you saw him?

MAYA Like a month ago.

FAITH That's so not okay. I think you should make him reach out to you next time.

MAYA Well -FAITH Then ignore him.

MAYA I don't know about that part. But I'll try.

Maya crosses the tennis court then serves. Faith attempts to return -- the ball hits the net. Maya serves again -- it hits the net too. She walks over, bends to pick it up.

EXT. TENNIS COURT - A DIFFERENT DAY Maya picks up a few tennis balls. She puts them in her bag, zips it up. When she looks up, Peter is walking toward her.

MAYA What are you doing here?

PETER I'm here to see you.

MAYA Oh. PETER You don't sound happy about it, though.

MAYA Because it's been six weeks, Peter.

FAITH This is Peter?

6.

PETER You must be Faith.

FAITH Yeah.

She narrows her eyes at him.

FAITH (cont'd) I'll see you at work, Maya.

Maya waves goodbye.

MAYA Why are you here?

PETER I just wanted to explain -MAYA Why you basically ghosted me?

PETER I -- I didn't mean to ghost you... it's just... it's been a while since I've tried dating someone.

MAYA It's been a while for me too, but that doesn't mean I just disappear on people when shit gets tough.

She grabs her bag, walks away.

PETER Then what are you doing now?

MAYA Leaving behind a ghost.

PETER Wait!

Maya stops, closes her eyes -INT./EXT. PETER'S CAR - NIGHT Maya opens her eyes, groans. She pushes the air bag out of the way as she exits the car. She collapses to the ground -a puddle reflects her bruised face back at her. She places her hand in the water --

7.

INT. MAYA'S APARTMENT - DAY Maya finishes the movement by gathering water in her hands to wash her face. She looks up at the mirror. Peter's face looks back at her instead of her own. She reaches out to touch him -- his hand mirrors her every movement and expression. As her hand touches the glass -- she's pulled in -INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - DAY Maya falls -- pulled in by Peter onto his bed -- they kiss... and when their lips part -- Maya is looking at herself. She jumps -- backs up until she bumps into Peter's mirror -- her hand touches the glass -- she turns around to see Peter standing in the mirror's place.

INT. MAYA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Peter affectionately brushes Maya's shoulder -- his gesture shown in the mirror above Maya's fireplace. She smiles up at him then CLINKS her beer bottle on his. She turns around to face a group of her friends. Faith approaches Maya and leans in -FAITH I see why you like him.

MAYA What do you mean?

FAITH He's just like you.

MAYA (distorted) No, he's not. (distant) He's not that much like me.

INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Peter and Maya sit on the couch together. They reach for their drinks at the same time. The football team on the TV has an incomplete pass.

PETER Fuck! You gotta --

8.

INT. MAYA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT MAYA -- be fucking kidding me!

Maya and Peter sit on opposite ends of the couch. Their argument continues, inaudible.

The image flickers with their positions and roles reversing.

Peter storms away into Maya's bedroom then slams the door.

Maya tries to turn the doorknob -- pounds on the door -INTERCUT EXT. PETER'S CAR - NIGHT Maya hits the driver's side window. Her reflection overlaps with Peter's face.

With alternating beats -- she hits the car door and the bedroom door.

MAYA Peter!

She pulls on the door handle -The door swings open -- Peter has vanished.

MAYA (cont'd) What the hell?

A car engine ROARS in the distance. Maya scrambles up the hillside. She glances back and forth as the ROARING grows louder -- converging from both sides. Suddenly -- headlights shine right in her face -- she raises her arms to shield her face --