The Candle Shop

EXT. WALKING THROUGH PARIS - MORNING

EDEN (22) is with her sister trudging through the busy Sunday morning Parisian streets, running errands with her sister MAE (16) for her mother.

EDEN
It looks like we are just about

done! Just need to get oranges from the fruit stand at the farmers market.

MAE
Oh- can we get apples too? I just

love the Gala ones from Mrs. Tabbot's stand!

Eden rolls eyes- Mae was always trying to get extra things.

EDEN
Maybe- let's see what we have left.

EXT. STOP LIGHT - CONTINUOUS

They turn down cobblestone road, leading them closer to the farmer's market that lay underneath the Eiffel Tower and are waiting to cross street.

EDEN
What do you think we should get

mother for her birthday? It's this Saturday.

EDEN (CONT'D) Mae?? Hello Earth to Mae?!

Mae shakes out of spacing out, with little to no sleep from the night before.

MAE
Sorry. What'd you say? Oh yes, her

birthday. I'm not sure, got any ideas?

Eden looks around them at the different stores that line the street.

EDEN
What about...looking in there?

She points to a candle shop that lay on the opposite side of the street across from them.

MAE
I don't know if we should look

right now- we told mom we would be home soon.

She says this while pulling her sister across the street in the opposite direction, towards their destination of the farmers market.

EDEN
Please Mae? I feel like we will

find something she would love.

Just then, man walks by carrying bag that says "The Candle Shop," as he just purchased something there. Mae looks at it hard.

MAE
Oh alright. We can look just for a

second- but no dilly dallying.

They cross the street back and open the door to walk inside the shop.

INT. THE CANDLE SHOP - MOMENTS LATER

They walk in and are amazed by the selection of candles. BEATRICE, the shop owner, stands up in the back of the store, pouring candles.

MAE
Wow. There are so many different

smells going through my nose right now.

She closes her eyes and inhales.

EDEN
I can make out a rose scent, pear,

and oh wait...is that sandalwood?

Eden sniffs the air trying to pick it apart. They continue to venture through the shop, picking up different candles and holding them to their nose.

MAE
I feel like mother would love this

shop and practically everything in it.

EDEN
Yeah, especially because it has

such a quaint, small town feel to it.

Beatrice has stopped pouring candles, wipes her hands on her apron, and goes over to greet her new customers.

BEATRICE
Bonjour ladies! Can I help you find

anything today?

Mae puts down the Elderberry candle she held to make eye contact with Beatrice.

MAE
Hello! We are just searching for a

birthday present for our mom.

BEATRICE
Oh, oui! Isn't that just lovely!

Are there any particular smells that she is fond of?

Eden thinks back into her childhood years, searching for a smell that might remind her mom of a good memory- then it clicks.

EDEN
Our mother grew up in the south and

loved to play in the lavender fields! Do you have any lavender candles?

Beatrice eyes light up in excitement.

BEATRICE
How lovely! I actually have a whole

selection of candles based off of Provence because I grew up there as well! Let me show you.

She takes them up to her work table by the cash register and pulls a few candles out of various cabinets up above.

BEATRICE (CONT'D)
Do you know what town she grew up

in?

MAE
I think it starts with an R.

EDEN
Yeah, I want to say Rousson or

something like that?

BEATRICE
Oui oui! Roussillon is my home

town! Wow that is crazy? What is your mothers name?

EDEN
Aurelie and her maiden name is

Bernard, but Aurelie Peters now!

BEATRICE
Oui, I grew up with many Bernards.

Cosette, perhaps her older sister, and I think Delphine was her cousin!

MAE
Yes, our Auntie Cosette still lives

there! What a small world.

Beatrice takes a candle in her left hand and starts wrappin it.

BEATRICE
Oh, how wonderful! Well, please

give this to your mother as a birthday gift- free of charge! She will love this scent.

She hands the girls the wrapped candle.

EDEN
Merci beaucoup! Wow- that is so

kind of you!

MAE
Yes merci! She will love it! We

will tell her you say hello.

Mae takes the candle and smells it, exhaling with a smile at the beautiful scent that filled her nose.

BEATRICE
Yes please do! Come in again soon.

The girls walk out of the store, feeling happy and sweetened by Beatrice's kindness.

FADE TO BLACK.