Kaji: The First Bite

1. FADE IN

3. Act 1

5. INT. HOME - SUNDAY MORNING

6. 
   

7. Sunlight slants through the curtains. KAJI waits at the main door.

8. 
   

9.  KAJI (V.O.) : Peter may return anytime.

10. 
    

11. The main door swings open. Peter appears, holding a bag.

12. 
    

13. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): That smell. Of belonging.

14. 
    

15. Peter places the loaf on the dining table. Kaji follows him. He pulls a chair.

16. 
    

17. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): My designated seat.

18. 
    

19. She hops up. Peter slices off the bread. The soft, pillowy interior collapses slightly. He holds it out.

20. 
    

21. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): First bite. As always.

22. 
    

23. Kaji takes it gently from Peter's fingers. She chews. The world is perfect.

24. 
    

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. INT. HOME - CONTINUOUS

28. 
    

29. Breakfast is finished. Peter slumps on a sofa, scrolling his phone. Kaji trots over.

30. 
    

31. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): I want to say thank you.

32. 
    

33. Kaji leans in and begins to lick Peter's face-slow, deliberate strokes across his jaw. Her mind then drifts.

34. 
    

35. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): Last time when the maid wasn't home, Peter was...absent. Characteristically absent.

36. 
    

37. FLASHBACK

38. 
    

39. INT. HOME - LAST SUNDAY

40. 
    

41. Kaji sits at the dining table, alone. The chair is empty across from her.

42. 
    

43. KAJI (V.O.): No bag. No scent.

44. 
    

45. The PACK LEADER shuffles out from the bedroom, She brinks at Kaji.

46. 
    

47. PACK LEADER: Sorry. Overslept.

48. 
    

49. The Pack Leader pours kibble into a bowl.

50. 
    

51. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): The boring, everyday kind. No first bite.

52. 
    

53. Kaji stares at the bowl.

54. 
    

55. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm not happy. But I'm very hungry.

56. 
    

57. RETURN TO PRESENT

58. 
    

59. Kaji stops licking.

60. 
    

61. PETER: Am I clean enough?

62. 
    

63. Kaji sits back. She stares at Peter. She calculates.

64. 
    

65. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): He's here today. That's what matters. The bread was soft. The bite was mine.

66. 
    

67. EXT. RIVERSIDE PARK - EVENING

68. 
    

69. Kaji walks beside the Pack Leader.

70. 
    

71. KAJI (V.O.): It's still very hot.

72. 
    

73. She glances back towards the apartment building in the distance.

74. 
    

75. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): Peter stays in his room, blowing into that silver tube.

76. 
    

77. Pausing.

78. 
    

79. KAJI (V.O.) Cont'd): He has done this for quite a while.

80. 
    

81. Kaji pants.

82. 
    

83. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): He's smart. He knows this is not a day for movement. He is content just to make noise.

84. 
    

85. Kaji stops walking.

86. 
    

87. PACK LEADER: You're done?

88. 
    

89. Kaji is expressionless.

90. 
    

91. PACKLEADER (Cont'd): Yeah, me too.

92. 
    

93. The Pack Leader scoops her up.

94. 
    

95. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is against my dignity...but I don't want to move anymore.

96. 
    

97. Kaji doesn't resist.

98. 
    

99. PACK LEADER: It's too hot. Let's go home quick.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. HOME - NIGHT

105. Kaji relaxes in the massage chair.

106. 
     

107. KAJI (V.O.): When the first bite goes missing, the following days feel off-key-like the noise made by Peter with that silver tube.

108. 
     

109. Pausing.

110. 
     

111. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): To give the first bite is to say: I'm thinking of you before I think of myself.

112. 
     

113. Pausing.

114. 
     

115. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): Peter and I don't share bread equally. We share it intentionally. That's the difference between feeding and loving.

116. 
     

117. FADE OUT

119. THE END