INT. KRYSTAL’S ROOM - JUNG RESIDENCE - AFTER MIDNIGHT

The sound of the wind whooshing. Curtains waving back and forth.

JESSICA is seated on the bed by the open window. She is continuing to read “Homouality in Art”. Her eyebrows are furrowed as she focuses deeply on the text. The title of the page reads “Female Homouality in the Middle Ages”. 

As she flips the page she comes to a highlighted paragraph. With great interest, she follows along every word with her finger. The paragraph reads:

“...lesbian ual activity was frequently ignored, marginalized, or subsumed under categories of male homoual sins. In some of these discourses, however, same- emotional attachment and ual practice was consistently condemned. The only hint of “lesbian” activity as “unnatural” found in either Jewish or Christian Scripture is contained in Romans 1: 26–27.”

JESSICA holds on to her chin, contemplating. She pulls out her cellphone and searches: 

“What does Romans 1:26-27 say?”

JESSICA clicks the first link and reads the scripture:

“26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural ual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

JESSICA sets down her phone with a weary sigh. 

She pushes back the curtain and gazes at the starry sky. She lifts her finger to the sky and begins to count every star she sees.

INT. FRONT ROOM - MALLORY’S PENTHOUSE - AFTER MIDNIGHT

The sound of women howling with laughter. The DJ switches the song to Rave Mood by Remco Baekwilder. The loud bass is causing the room to shake.

KRYSTAL is clumsily navigating her way through the crowd with hazy, fearful eyes. She spots PAOLA dancing with a fit, blonde woman in a skin tight black dress. She frantically makes her way over to them. PAOLA beams at the sight of her.

PAOLA
Krystal!

PAOLA gives her a sozzled smile. KRYSTAL looks displeased.

KRYSTAL
Why did you leave me? 

PAOLA
I told you I’d be right back!

KRYSTAL
No, I told you I’d be right back when I left to the bathroom! Why did you leave me?

THE BLONDE WOMAN pulls away from PAOLA.

BLONDE WOMAN
Is this your girlfriend or something?

KRYSTAL shakes her head. PAOLA winks.

PAOLA
She’s a work in progress.

KRYSTAL
I’m not!

PAOLA
Of course you are!

THE BLONDE WOMAN shrugs.

BLONDE WOMAN
Alright, I guess I’m done here. I don’t do drama.

THE BLONDE WOMAN walks off into the dancing crowd.

KRYSTAL crosses her arms in irritation.

KRYSTAL
You left me to go dance with some ty girl?

PAOLA takes KRYSTAL’S hands into her’s.

PAOLA
Oh my god. You’re jealous!

KRYSTAL scoffs.

KRYSTAL
No, I’m pissed you left me! 

PAOLA gives a goofy, intoxicated smile.

PAOLA
There’s no need to be jealous. 

KRYSTAL
I’m not jealous! I’m freaking the out! I want to go back into the room!

PAOLA swings KRYSTAL’S arms back and forth.

PAOLA
You’ll be fine. Let’s dance.

KRYSTAL slides her hands down her sweaty face.

KRYSTAL
Please, can we just go back into the room.

PAOLA
If you dance, it’ll all go away.

PAOLA begins to dance sensually.

PAOLA
Let me make it all go away.

PAOLA pulls KRYSTAL against her by her lower back. KRYSTAL’s body melds into PAOLA’S and they begin to grind along to the hard-hitting beat.

After some time, AMBER appears behind them and pats KRYSTAL’S arm, attempting to get her attention. KRYSTAL stops dancing and turns to face her. Her face is washed over with fury.

AMBER
I finally found you.

KRYSTAL
What the in the do you want?

AMBER rubs her back with a guilty expression on her face.

AMBER
Can we talk?

KRYSTAL’S mouth drops, baffled by the suggestion.

KRYSTAL
Go to hell!

PAOLA eyes AMBER up and down.

PAOLA
And who is this?

KRYSTAL
An absolute nobody!

KRYSTAL grabs PAOLA by the arm and turns both of their backs to AMBER. 

AMBER
Krys, come on. I really want to talk to you. Please.

KRYSTAL grits her teeth and furiously turns back to face AMBER.

KRYSTAL
You have nothing important to say to me!

AMBER clasps her hands together and shakes them, begging.

AMBER
Please.

PAOLA wags her finger in AMBER’S face.

PAOLA
If she doesn’t want to talk then she doesn’t want to talk!

AMBER
Who the are you? Get out of my face. This has nothing to do with you.

PAOLA tuts.

PAOLA
As of right now, Krystal is my spiritual partner and we don’t have time for you.

AMBER raises an eyebrow.

AMBER
What?

PAOLA rolls her eyes and begins to pull KRYSTAL away. AMBER pulls KRYSTAL back.

AMBER
(in a low, hushed voice)
Krystal, I’ll give you some K if you talk to me. Please. I’ve got plenty.

KRYSTAL shakes her head.

KRYSTAL
What, am I some sort of desperate feign? off!

PAOLA looks at AMBER with eager eyes.

PAOLA
On second thought, Krystal, maybe you should hear her out.

KRYSTAL scoffs. PAOLA puts her chin on KRYSTAL’S shoulder, her lips by her ear.

PAOLA
I’ll treat you real good later if you go talk to her.

KRYSTAL
I’m not desperate!

PAOLA smacks her lips.

PAOLA
Don’t be so selfish! Go! Go! Go!

PAOLA pushes KRYSTAL’S listless body toward AMBER. 

AMBER
5 minutes of your time. That’s all I ask!

KRYSTAL rolls her eyes and turns to PAOLA.

KRYSTAL
You feign.

KRYSTAL follows behind AMBER to the front door.

INT. HALLWAY - MALLORY’S COMPLEX - AFTER MIDNIGHT

KRYSTAL leans against the wall, her eyes barely able to stay open. 

KRYSTAL
(slurring)
Before you even say a word, give me the K.

AMBER pulls a small bag full of white powder. Discreetly, she hands it over to KRYSTAL.

KRYSTAL
Okay, now what do you have to say to me?

AMBER her lips nervously.

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