#balkanic beach

[eurolifeau]

Episode fifteen: Arcade (Scene 15)

Wednesday 18:47, Promenade, Balkanic Beach. Ryan peeks up a little, and he sees him. He sighs relieved. He approaches to Duncan, who is sitting in a bench. RYAN: Hey there. DUNCAN: (surprised) How did you find me? RYAN: Well, I called you and then I went to your house. You didn't answer and I knew you would only be here. DUNCAN: Wow. RYAN: I dated you. I know you very well. DUNCAN: Yeah, I sometimes forget that. RYAN: (fakely offended) How can you forget the best part of your life? Duncan laughs. RYAN: I'm sorry for speaking to you in that way. That's by far not what I meant. DUNCAN: Nah, it's okay. You're right. I'm selfish. RYAN: No, you're not. It is a natural reflex of humans to look for someone when they feel alone. I completely get you. DUNCAN: But I also get that these are not the manners. RYAN: I want to propose you something. DUNCAN: Huh? Ryan brushes his hair with his fingers. RYAN: Maybe it's a little bit weird because we're, you know, exes. DUNCAN: Nah, I think I've already done too much clownery. It's hard to tie that. Ryan laughs. RYAN: As Cláudia is not going to be here for a long time I thought that you could move in for a while. Duncan looks at him surprised. DUNCAN: I thought that you didn't want to have anything to do with me ever. RYAN: Why? You're a nice guy. Sometimes your smile annoys me, but you're a nice guy. DUNCAN: Thanks, I guess? Ryan laughs. RYAN: So what do you say? DUNCAN: Okay. I accept. But one condition. RYAN: Tell me. DUNCAN: On Friday we have Lasagna for dinner. Ryan laughs and that makes Duncan smile as he is known for. Ryan notices his smile. RYAN: That is what I wanted to see. DUNCAN: What? RYAN: Your smile. DUNCAN: The annoying one? RYAN: The annoying one.

[eurolifeau]

Alcohol You: Scene 09

NOW, 01:27, Balkanic Beach

Two or three drinks have already gone down Victoria’s esophagus. Her head spins round and round and her sense of equilibrium is null. She tries to dance but eventualy, Gjon has to stop her from bumping into people. 

GJON: Victoria, this is the third time you spill that girl’s drink. 

Victoria turns around. 

VICTORIA: (drunk) I’m so sorry. Look for Elvana and tell her Victoria invited you to a drink. 

When she turns around again to Gjon, he is looking at her confused. 

VICTORIA: What? I was just trying to be nice. 

GJON: Okay, it’s walk time. You need a bit of air.

Gjon grabs her by the arm and tries to pull her away from the multitude. 

VICTORIA: What are you doing? I was having fun!

GJON: You can’t even dance straight. 

VICTORIA: Everyone has their own dance techniques, duh. 

Gjon takes her hand to make her walk a bit straight. He notices how she can’t walk on her platforms. 

GJON: For the love of God, take them off. 

VICTORIA: Why?

GJON: You look like a dizzy duck. 

VICTORIA: Nah, you just want to be taller than me. 

GJON: Victoria, you’re going to sprain your ankle. 

Victoria sighs. 

VICTORIA: Fine. 

She lets herself down in the sand in a very comic way, so Gjon lets a little giggle go. He takes her shoes and helps her stand up. 

GJON: See? Much better.

VICTORIA: I’m going to find a broken glass and cut my foot. 

GJON: Why would you?

VICTORIA: Because pollution! Don’t you know more than half of the beaches of the world are so polluted that if you drop your food you can’t eat it?

GJON: I mean,if you drop your food, it would have a lot of sand. 

VICTORIA: (sighs) Okay, first honours in your year. 

Gjon giggles. 

GJON: That’s mean.

VICTORIA: No. You’re mean. 

They walk in silence for a couple of minutes. 

GJON: You know what?

VICTORIA: What now, know-it-all?

GJON: I was about to tell you something very nice, but I will keep it until you’re nice with me. 

Victoria stops. 

VICTORIA: You just can’t tell me “you know what?” and then “aaah, nevermind”. 

Gjon shrughs

GJON: I just did. 

Victoria starts walking again trying to catch Gjon’s pace up. 

VICTORIA: No, tell me now. 

GJON: Maybe later. 

Victoria grabs him by the arm, and forces him to turn around. 

VICTORIA: Tell me!

Gjon smiles.

GJON: There’s actually something I’ve been trying to tell you all night.

Victoria listens cautiously. 

GJON: You know, we’ve known each other for... one year an a half, two years? And since the first day I saw you...

Someone nearby burst laughing and takes Victoria’s attention. She abruptly turns around and sees a tall, bronze colored girl passing by. Something about her seems familiar...

GJON: (trying to get her back) Victoria?

VICTORIA: One moment, it’s just...

Victoria starts slowly approaching to the sonorous laughter nearby, Gjon follows her from behind. 

Until something clicks inside Victoria’s brain. She suddenly turns around.

VICTORIA: It’s her! I remember her!

She starts running in the sand towards her, leaving Gjon behind.

[eurolifeau]

Alcohol You: Scene 07

NOW, 23:32, Balkanic Beach

The party is already going hard. There’s a part of the beach where people gather around the bonfire and dance to the music Jaagup is playing. Victoria seems to be having a good time. She takes the last sip of her drink.

VICTORIA: I need more. 

Gjon frowns. 

GJON: Don’t you think you’re drinking too fast? You barely used to drink anything. 

VICTORIA: Plus, I need to pee. 

Gjon sighs. 

GJON: Okay. 

They try yo go through the people, who are heavily crowded. Gjon takes Victoria’s hand to not get lost between all the people. 

When they finally get out of the mass of people, Victoria looks at her shirt. 

VICTORIA: I think someone spilled their drink over me. 

She sighs. 

GJON: Probably I have some T-Shirts in my car. You know, with Ben you never know. 

VICTORIA: No, it’s okay. Let’s go pee. 

Victoria and Gjon walk through the sand to the point where Elvana served their drinks before. Suprisingly, she’s still there. 

VICTORIA: Enjoying the party, huh?

ELVANA: People are dumb and they don’t know how to serve their own drinks. (sighs) Have you already drunk everything? 

Victoria sighs.

VICTORIA: I spilled some on the way.

ELVANA: You learn fast! Anyway, I’ll get you more (takes her glass and starts mixing her drink) And you, Gjon? Do you want something?

GJON: I’ll take another beer.

ELVANA: (sighs) That’s no fun. And beer tastes like grass.

GJON: I don’t know how you can chug down so many liters of alcohol after...

Gjon realizes what he was going to say, and stops in the middle of the sentence. He sighs. 

GJON: And gin tastes like rubbing alcohol. 

ELVANA: Anyway, Victoria here it is. 

She handles the full glass to her smiles. 

ELVANA: I will probably be around here if you need me. 

VICTORIA: Where are the portable toilets?

Elvana stays silent for a moment and then she bursts out laughing?

ELVANA: Portable toilets? Girl, just use the bush behind. 

Victoria rolls her eyes and turns away. 

VICTORIA: Anyway, see ya.

She takes Gjon’s arm and starts walking to the opposite direction of the bush Elvana pointed out.

GJON: Didn’t you want to pee?

VICTORIA: I can’t pee in there. There are... bugs and leaves. 

GJON: Really?

VICTORIA: And I don’t even know how to pee if it’s not in a toilet. You know, I’m not like you. You can take the worm out and pee anywhere. 

Gjon frowns. 

GJON: It’s not that easy. 

Victoria looks at him deep in the eyes. 

GJON: Well, perhaps it is that easy, but it stills need technique. 

Victoria sighs. 

GJON: Anything wrong?

VICTORIA: Nothing, just... I’m getting a little bit overwhelmed again. It reminds me of...

Gjon half smiles and takes her hand. 

GJON: Do you want to go for a walk?

VICTORIA: No. I need to face it.

Suddenly, Victoria bumps into another girl, who sadly spills all her drink into Victoria’s clothes. Victoria is about to go off, until she sees her face.

DOTTER: Oh, girl! I’m so sorry. Are you okay?

Victoria rapidly looks at Gjon and then back to the girl. She looks at all the glitter in her face, and all the fake jewels she has glued to her skin. Just like her sister used to do.

VICTORIA: (about to cry) Where did you get that from?

DOTTER: Oh (points to glitter) this? There’s this store in DeForest Mall that sells all kind of fantasy make up, isn’t it amazing?

Victoria comes back to reality and fake smiles.

VICTORIA: Yeah, it’s beautiful. 

The friend from the girl tries to pull her away from the situation, so she just waves and goes away. 

Gjon, who has watched the whole scene takes her by the arm. 

VICTORIA: What are you doing?

GJON: Oh, we’re going to pee.

[eurolifeau]

Alcohol You: Scene 05

NOW, 23:04, Balkanic Beach.

Jaagup takes Victoria’s hand and leads her through the multitude to the big bonfire. There’s a little fire already started to get everything no fire. Jaagup looks at Victoria. 

JAAGUP: Ready?

VICTORIA: Sure. 

Jaagup makes a gesture to someone a few meters away to turn the music down. 

JAAGUP: Everybody! Welcome to Saint John’s Eve, or however it’s called in your country! Get your wishes ready to burn!

When Victoria hears the word wish, her heart misses a beat. She starts looking in all her pockets for her piece of paper but she can’t find it. 

VICTORIA: Jaagup, my wish! My wish isn’t here!

JAAGUP: What?

VICTORIA: I can’t find it!

JAAGUP: Okay, calm down... Where have you seen it for the last time?

VICTORIA: (visibilly nervous) I don’t know, I... I just don’t have it. 

JAAGUP: We will look for it, okay?

Victoria couldn’t hear the last sentece because she already started running away on the beach. 

JAAGUP: Victoria! Where are you going?!

Jaagup remains frozen in his place while he sees Victoria running away. She goes directly to Gjon. 

VICTORIA: (on the merge of tears) Gjon, I lost my wish! This can’t be, I lost it...

Gjon watches her shake. He takes her arms. 

GJON: It’s okay, where was the last time you saw it?

VICTORIA: I don’t know! I’m sure when we were with Elvana I didn’t have it, and that place on the beach is too far waya to look for now, it’s going to start now. 

Gjon takes a deep breath and then takes a paper and a pen out of his jacket. He aggresively crosses out whatever was written on it before. 

GJON: Here. Write it again. 

VICTORIA: But that’s your wish, I...

GJON: (interrupting her) Now it’s our wish. Come on, it’s about to start. 

Victoria hesitates but eventually she takes it and writes her wish on it. 

GJON: Come on, let’s get closer. 

Gjon takes Victoria’s hand and they approach to the big bonfire, which has ben already lighted a little bit. They wait for Jaagup’s indications. 

GJON: There you have a little space to throw it. 

VICTORIA: (looking at him) No. 

GJON: (confused) No?

VICTORIA: It’s our wish, we have to throw it together. 

Gjon smiles. 

GJON: Okay. 

They hear Jaagup’s voice screaming “three, two, one...” and everyone throwing their wishes in the bonfire. Victoria takes a step and whispers to herself. 

VICTORIA: This is for Roxen. 

She looks at Gjon for an approbation look and he nods, so they let go the little paper and they watch it being consumed by the fire. 

GJON: So what did you wish for?

VICTORIA: I can’t tell you, it wouldn’t become true. 

GJON: But it’s ours, right?

Victoria smiles. 

VICTORIA: What did you wish for in the first place?

Gjon shrugs. 

GJON: Can’t tell you either, I’m still waiting for it to come true. 

VICTORIA: Oh, come on... 

GJON: We’ll see. 

Victoria smiles. 

VICTORIA: Let’s go out of here. It’s starting to be very hot. 

GJON: Okay. Where do you want to go?

Victoria points to his beer. 

VICTORIA: Let’s get more of those.

[eurolifeau]

Alcohol You: Scene 03

NOW, 22:59, Balkanic Beach. 

Victoria and Gjon walk towards the multitude in the party. They can already hear how deafening the music is. Victoria forces herself to put a smile in her face. 

ELVANA: Where were you both?

VICTORIA: Smoking a cig. 

ELVANA: Did it take so long?

VICTORIA: I needed to pee too.

Elvana raises an eyebrow and hands her a cup. 

ELVANA: Rum or gin?

VICTORIA: Gin. 

ELVANA: Fruit juice?

VICTORIA: Yes. 

Elvana serves her the cocktail while Gjon looks at the bonfire. 

GJON: Wow. It’s the biggest bonfire I’ve ever seen.

ELVANA: Jaagup insisted. He said he wanted to pay tribute to Roxen. 

Victoria feels a pinch in her chest when she hears her name. 

GJON: That’s cute. 

ELVANA: And expensive. Gjon, do you want something to drink?

GJON: Oh, don’t worry. Got my beer. 

Victoria sighs. 

VICTORIA: I don’t even know who half of these people are.

Elvana looks at her tenderly. 

ELVANA: Hey, don’t think about that now. Just try to have fun. That’s what she would’ve liked. 

Victoria tries to fake smile again. 

GJON: Why don’t we take a look at the bonfire?

VICTORIA: Sure. 

ELVANA: Great, um... I’ll catch you later. 

Gjon takes victoria by the arm and pushes her closer. As they start walking towards the giant bonfire, the music starts getting louder. 

GJON: Smoking a cig?

VICTORIA: She thinks we’re together. 

GJON: Yeah, about that... There’s something  I need to tell you. 

Victoria raises one eyebrow, but in that exact moment, Jaagup comes to talk to both. 

JAAGUP: Guys! You’re late, this is about to start. 

Victoria smiles forcedly. 

GJON: Where did you get so many wood?

Jaagup shrugs. 

JAAGUP: Someone owed me a favour.(to Victoria) Do you want to do the honours?

Victoria looks at Gjon for support. He nods.

VICTORIA: Absolutely.

JAAGUP: Then, follow me.

[eurolifeau]

Alcohol You: Scene 01

NOW 22:45, Balcanic Beach.

While the moon is reflected in the water, the sand seems to echo the sound waves from the party a few heptometers away. Victoria takes a sip from her bottle of beer and keeps watching the waves crash before her.

She’s so absort in her thoughts that she doesn’t hear Gjon shout her name until he’s one meter away. She doesn’t even look at his eyes.

GJON: I was worried. 

She shrugs.

VICTORIA: I said I would go back. 

GJON: That was half an hour ago.

Gjon sits besides her. 

VICTORIA: This was her favourite spot in the whole town.

Gjon smiles.

GJON: She had good taste. It feels magical. 

Victoria tries to fake smile but her muscles don’t move. 

VICTORIA: It feels empty now. 

Gjon looks at her blue eyes, now bathed with tears. He takes her hand softly. 

GJON: Do you know about constellations?

VICTORIA: Not really. 

Gjon points up to a place in the sky. 

GJON: That one is Cassiopeia. 

VICTORIA: Really?

GJON: No. I don’t have my glasses on. 

Victoria gently giggles. She leans her head on him. 

VICTORIA: You’re so dumb.

GJON: I’m actually smarter than you. 

VICTORIA: Just because you’re older doesn’t mean that you’re smart. 

GJON: Just because I’m smarter doesn’t mean that you have to be so salty about it. 

Victoria rolls her eyes. 

VICTORIA: You know what?

GJON: What?

VICTORIA: I’m so glad to have you as my best friend. 

Gjon smiles. 

GJON: Only best friend?

VICTORIA: (confused) What do you mean?

Someone interrupts them.

BEN: Hey, you two! The bonfire is about to start. 

GJON: Last to arrive owes a shot to the other one.

Victoria smiles.

VICTORIA: Bet.