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- 11/29/2023
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The Longest Third Date - 1. KLEBBER AND DENNIS'S NETFLIX INTRO
A Chapter in Scene 4 —> Continues onto THIS Chapter
So what I've written so far will serve as the foundation, and I hope to expand it more.
NOTE: I will definitely modify this chapter—not eliminate or cut parts, but instead ADD more context. I just need to get to the near end of the last scene, Scene 4, to be able to rewrite this because one of the chapters in Scene 4 links up to this very chapter, which is the start of the story.
PROGRESS report:
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Previously at 216k words on the day of this posting (10/01/24)
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Taking a break. Moving to a new house. Resuming in December or late November.
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Left story at 230k+ words at Chapter 32, Scene 3.
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—A red ‘Letter N' unfolds into a spectrum of colors.
PRESENT TIME (POST-COVID19)
Netflix Studios, NY Office, 888 Broadway, New York
—In the middle of the studio, a blue partition cuts the space like a line drawn between two worlds. The acoustic ceiling hangs low, holding the silence of a breath unreleased. Just in front of the divider, a chartreuse leather couch sits with a floor lamp standing sentinel to the left and three potted areca palms keeping it company. On either side, corner tables rise up, stacked circles of marble. The director's voice breaks the stillness: "Quiet, please," as though trying to hush the very air.
Another voice follows: "Take one, mark."
The screen shifts, and there’s a man now, center stage on that couch, guitar in hand. He begins to play, and it’s Lucas Imbiriba's Malagueña, every pluck weaving through the room, richer and fuller notes, as though the sound is breathing life into the space.
The camera zooms in, focusing on the guitar player’s face, where his dark, wavy hair falls over his shoulders. On the other half of the screen, a blond man blinks into the lens; his eyes—a blue so pale it almost burns—fill the frame. There’s a knowing smile in those eyes, and as the shot pulls back, you see him—chiseled features, blonde cropped hair, a nose straight as a line drawn with purpose, olive skin that catches the light just right. He blinks again, that smile curving up at the corners, like he's playing a seductive game only he knows.
Back to the guitar player, the camera dives deeper, locking on his hazel-brown eyes, lashes brushing down as he closes them, lost in the rhythm. His fingers dance across the strings, possessed by some spirit only he can hear, plucking out the intro with a swift, sure touch. The scene fades, the music echoing into a dark, bluish void, and then the words flash across the screen:
A Netflix Documentary…
—The percussion kicks in, quickening the pulse, fingers tapping the guitar base like a heartbeat, the rhythm driving forward, flamenco-inspired and fierce:
ITV America in association with CIVILIAN 7 ENTERTAINMENT
—As the music fades, the beat shifts, morphing into an upbeat summer vibe.
—The screen lights up with a tall brunette, his hair tied back in a manbun, lounging on the right side of a leather couch. Wearing a pink bomber jacket, black shirt, white pants, and yellow sneakers—legs splayed wide, he leans forward with his notorious grin.
Next to him, a shorter blond guy, strikingly gorgeous, and legs crossed. He fiddles with his black sweatshirt and dark denims, then shoots a smile straight at the camera, looking cool and undeniably sexy.
KLEBBER: Hold up, I’ve got a thread stuck. This drives me nuts. [The blond, still smiling, plucks at a loose thread on his jeans.]
—In the background, the director calls out, "Greg, can you double-check our marks?"
DENNIS: I was on time, right? I mean, I was super on time. [The camera pans to Dennis Ellison, the big man with the manbun, his face lights up with a playful grin.] Not for my dates with Kleb, but today, I was on time.
—The screen shifts to Klebber Toledo, the shorter blond man, catching his laid-back vibe.
PRODUCER: So, how did you two meet?
KLEBBER: Dennis and I met on a dating app, Tinge.
DENNIS: I swiped right, finally breaking my streak of 58 unremarkable, half-naked dudes.
—The screen flashes to Klebber’s Tinge profile pics.
DENNIS: He had a surfing pic, so at least I got to see his abs.
PRODUCER: And…?
—Laughter bubbles up; the crew can’t help but giggle.
DENNIS: [He bites his lower lip, sinking into the couch, hands covering his face like he’s trying to hide from the truth.] Alright, I admit it, he's hot—really hot. Blond, tanned, a smile that could stop traffic, and the guy knows how to surf. Who wouldn’t swipe on that? I was looking for someone fun—someone to travel with and go on adventures with. That was the deal; it was my top priority. So yeah, I swiped, and then it was just this waiting game, hoping he’d swipe back.
—Dennis’s Tinge profile pops up on the screen.
KLEBBER: I couldn’t figure him out at first. Every photo was like a different version of the guy. One minute he’s on the beach with a ukulele, then he’s at some fancy party, champagne in hand. Then he’s DJing at a club, getting kissed on the lips by a bearded dude in a nurse's outfit, mistletoe hanging above. And yeah, there’s even a shot where he’s getting smooched on the cheek by Chris Evans. His profile was wild, man.
PRODUCER: Did you ever think he was a fuckboi? [The question hangs in the air, triggering laughter in the studio.] You called him a fuckboi the first time you met.
KLEBBER: Yeah, I did. I mean, come on, look at him. Tall, dark hair, and that goofy smile, like he’s the naughtiest kid in the school photo lineup. I figured he probably had a line of guys he was sleeping with when we met. [He laughs.]
PRODUCER: Did he?
KLEBBER: I don’t know. He just kept laughing whenever I’d ask. Now that I think about it, his laugh used to drive me crazy.
PRODUCER: Still does?
KLEBBER: Nah. But he claims my snoring drives him nuts, so we’re even. Though I’m pretty sure he secretly likes it.
PRODUCER: So what made you swipe back?
KLEBBER: There was this one answer on Dennis's profile—he wrote that he was looking for a partner to complement his lifestyle.
PRODUCER: What’s wrong with that?
KLEBBER: I’m like, this guy’s looking for a life partner? Definitely not for me. I was just out to have some fun, nothing serious. I’d just come out of a three-year relationship, so I wasn’t looking for anything deep. But then I saw this photo of him holding his best friend’s kid, with that ridiculous grin on his face. [He smiles, caught in the memory.] That picture stuck with me. It stood out from all the party shots. And this little voice in my head was like, ‘This is the real Dennis. Just give it a shot. Go for a test run.’ So I swiped him.
—The screen lights up with their profiles matching.
DENNIS: And then…oh, you matched. Well, I had to say something, right? I grabbed my phone and typed out ‘hey gorgeous,’ smiley face. [He grins.] That was it. I never could’ve guessed what was coming next. But we matched, and we started talking. I guess the next step was to go on a date. [He snorts a laugh.] Well, might as well.
SCENE 1:
THE MEETCUTE
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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