INT. GUEST BEDROOM - MALLORY’S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT

PAOLA leans against the door with a fervid look on her face.

PAOLA
I’m glad you followed me.

KRYSTAL
It’s not as if I had a choice.

PAOLA
You always have a choice.

KRYSTAL
You pulled me in.

PAOLA
You didn’t stop me, did you?

KRYSTAL shakes her head hesitantly.

KRYSTAL
No I suppose I didn’t.

PAOLA smiles. She's still holding on to KRYSTAL'S arm. She gently begins to rub her fingers on KRYSTAL’S wrists.

KRYSTAL clears . PAOLA lets go of her arm with a girlish giggle.

KRYSTAL
So what are we doing in here? 

PAOLA
Traveling.

KRYSTAL
Traveling where exactly? 

PAOLA looks brightly into KRYSTAL’S eyes.

PAOLA
You will tread along a great path that will lead you toward achieving nirvana.

Immensley confused, KRYSTAL rubs her forehead.

KRYSTAL
I’m going to find nirvana in a guest bedroom?

PAOLA places her finger on KRYSTAL’S lips.

PAOLA
Shhh. Be patient. We're getting there.

PAOLA locks the door. She struts over to the closet. She opens the closet and retrieves her purse. She sits on the bed with a smile. 

PAOLA
Come here.

PAOLA pats the spot on the bed next to her. KRYSTAL obeys and sits a few spots away from her. PAOLA contorts her face.

PAOLA
Why are you so far away? Come here.

KRYSTAL obeys once again and nervously sits beside her. 

PAOLA
I’ve got a gift for you. It’s actually the whole reason why we’re here. You’ll begin your travelling with it.

KRYSTAL'S legs begin to anxiously bounce.

KRYSTAL
You have a gift for me? But you don’t know me.

PAOLA
As I've said before, I know what I need to know.

PAOLA sets her hand on KRYSTAL’S thigh. KRYSTAL freezes.

PAOLA
Do you want to know what it is?

KRYSTAL
I do.

PAOLA reaches into her purse and pulls out a folded piece of tinfoil. 

PAOLA
Your journey is in here.

KRYSTAL looks at the tin foil with a raised eyebrow.

KRYSTAL
I don’t get it.

With a wry smile, PAOLA opens the tin foil to reveal blotter paper with printed pink hearts across it. She lifts it up to KRYSTAL’S face.

PAOLA
For you.

KRYSTAL’S eyes become full of disbelief.

KRYSTAL
Acid? Your gift to me is acid? All of this is about you wanting me to take acid with you?

PAOLA looks at KRYSTAL with disappointment.

PAOLA
Well, it’s more than that.

KRYSTAL
What in the hell did Key tell you to make you think that I would want to take acid with a stranger in the guest bedroom of my friend's apartment?

PAOLA lies her hand on top of KRYSTAL’S.

PAOLA
Are you upset?

KRYSTAL
I’m not upset, no. I am just confused as to what made you want to hunt me down, feed me all these ideas about ‘journeys’ and ‘travelling’, then expect me to take acid with you when we're complete strangers to one another.

PAOLA takes KRYSTAL’S hand in her’s. 

PAOLA
Do you want to know what Key said to me about you? I’ll summarize it.

KRYSTAL
Go on, please.

PAOLA gives KRYSTAL’S hand a small squeeze.

PAOLA
He tells me that you are a troubled girl. A girl who is struggling to find her way. A girl who is not at peace with her inner-self. A girl who believes there will only ever be chaos in her head. A girl who isn’t so easy to figure out.

KRYSTAL releases her hand from PAOLA’S.

KRYSTAL
Key can off! 

KRYSTAL crosses her arms and throws her head back.

KRYSTAL
What is it with my friends betraying me this way?

PAOLA shakes her head.

PAOLA
It isn’t betrayal. 

KRYSTAL
How is it not?

PAOLA
You know what else he told me?

Krystal
Do I even want to know?

PAOLA
He also told me that while you have an irresolute soul, it’s the kindest soul. That you’re the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. That you float about the world with this wondrous innocence. That your mystique is what makes people fall in love with you. Which I’ve heard a lot of people tend to do.

KRYSTAL scoffs.

KRYSTAL
Disregard anything Key says about me! He’s probably already very ed up on alcohol and God knows what els