JUST WHO I NEEDED

LOUIE Spec
by
Kareem Farooq

KareemFarooq@gmail.com
Brooklyn, NY

EXT. OUTSIDE OF LOUIE'S NYC APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

NASIM, a beautiful Iranian-American woman, wearing stylish
office attire and high heels, is standing outside the front
entrance of Louie's building as he arrives home. She's on the
phone, and flustered as she digs keys out of her purse.
NASIM
(to the phone )
What?! Why did you say that? No,
that's obviously a bad idea. Tell
her the-Louie politely waits with keys in hand rather than pushing
her out of the way. She's carrying a purse, a computer case,
a plastic drug store bag, and a paper bag with take-out food.
Realizing that she's struggling, Louie jiggles his keys and
coughs to indicate she's in his way. This cough startles
Nasim, and she drops her drug store bag.
Oh, sorry!
Goddamnit!

LOUIE
NASIM

Louie reaches down to pick it up, but Nasim is determined not

to let him touch the plastic bag.
NASIM (CONT'D)
I got it.
(to the phone )
No, not
She drops the phone.
Fu!

NASIM (CONT'D)
CUT TO:

INT. LOUIE'S APARTMENT BUILDING LOBBY - NIGHT

Louie holds the door open as Nasim strides through into the
lobby without acknowledging Louie's good deed. She's focused
on her phone.
NASIM (CONT.D)
Sorry, my phone fell. It's been
crazy. But I need you to send me
her contact info. Just text it to
me. No, I have too much going on
right now.
Her and Louie are waiting for the elevator to arrive and are
careful not to acknowledge one another.

2.

NASIM (CONT'D)
What!? Well tell her that message
was meant to convey a sense of
irony... What do you mean she
doesn't get it? How much will it
costs to reprint?
(to Louie )
Do you have a pen?
Louie looks at her a moment, then hesitantly hands over a
pen.
NASIM (CONT'D)
(to the phone )
Ok, hold up.
She looks at Louie, implicitly requesting he hold the her
paper take-out bag. He rolls his eyes and holds the bag.
NASIM (CONT'D)
Give me the numbers.
Nasim is righting down numbers on the paper bag Louie is
holding when the elevator arrives. They walk onto the
elevator carefully so that she can keep writing.
NASIM (CONT'D)
That's great.
Louie hits his floor number.
NASIM (CONT'D)
(to Louie )
Twelve please.
This is the same floor as Louie's. She didn't realized he'd
already pushed that button.
LOUIE
That's my floor, too.
She's not listening to him, but continues to write numbers as
the elevator elevates.
NASIM
So, we're still in budget. Oh...
Damn. How much?.. Was that 8, 9, or
9, 8? Dana?! Ah, bitch!
Nasim's phone disconnected.
LOUIE
Elevators and cell phones don't get
along.
Nasim is staring at the numbers she scribbled down on the
paper bag Louie is holding.

3.

LOUIE (CONT'D)
As I'm sure, you know. I'm Louie by
the way.
NASIM
Nasim. Hey, sorry, I'm just trying
to think about this.
The elevator arrives on their floor. They walk off the
elevator.
INT. HALL OF LOUIE AND NASIM'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
NASIM
We've met before, right?
Kind of.

LOUIE
CUT TO
FLASHBACK:

INT. HALL OF LOUIE AND NASIM'S APARTMENT BUILDING [PAST]

Louie opens his apartment door and begins to reach down for
his newspaper. It's missing. He looks around and notices it
in front of another apartment. He walks over. Unsure if it's
his paper or not, he uses his foot to turn it over. He sees
his name and bends to pick it up when Nasim opens the door
about to leave to work. Awkward pause.
LOUIE
My paper was left in front of your
place.
NASIM
Uh huh, well I'm going to leave
now, soo...
LOUIE
Oh, of course.
Louie quickly moves out of the way to let Nasim pass, but
he's moved farther from his apartment, so he has to wait
while Nasim locks her door. She gives him a funny look before
heading to the elevator. He follows behind her until he comes
to his door.
CUT TO:
INT. LOUIE AND NASIM'S APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY [PRESENT]

4.

LOUIE
Yeah, that was pretty odd.
NASIM
I really thought you were a creep-Louie winces.
NASIM (CONT'D)
But not in a scary way.
Nasim's phone begins to ring again. She looks at it,
grimaces, and begins to turn away before poking her head up
briefly to say
NASIM (CONT.D) (CONT'D)
Good night.
LOUIE
Same to you.
They go to their respective apartmentsNasim in more of a
hurryas we
CUT TO:
INT. LOUIE'S APARTMENT - EVENING
With skill and attention to detail, Louie prepares his
dinner. Carefully checking the flavor, adding more spice
accordingly. He has a moment as the food cooks and the sauces
saut, so he refills his glass of wine and notices the
beeping light on his answering machine. He goes over, presses
play to listen. It's his ex-wife, JANET.
JANET (V.O.)
Hey Louie, Lilly has a little
fever, so she probably won't be
going to school tomorrow. If it's
still bad in the morning, I'm going
to take her to the pediatrician.
Dr. Sanders moved to a new office
by the way. Write this down.
Louie reaches for his jacket which is hanging nearby during
the pause. He realizes that his pen is not in his pocket and
recalls lending it to Nasim. He grabs a pen out of a drawer,
tries to write with it, and realizes it's dry. He's screaming
as he fumbles with the answering machine, trying to make it
stop.
JANET (CONT'D)
(in the background )
It's on 3rd ave between 80th and
81st. 487 is the address. Call me
or text me back if you can meet us
(MORE)

5.

there.

JANET (CONT'D)

He gives up and heads out the door, mumbling the doctor's

address to himself. He stops and retreats back to the stove
to turn off the gas, then it's back out towards Nasim's
apartment.
INT - NASIM'S BATHROOM
Nasim's sitting on the toilet staring at a pregnancy test,
waiting for the plus or minus sign. There's a knock on the
door. She puts the test on the sink counter next to a PEN and
heads to the door.
INT - NASIM'S APARTMENT
Nasim looks through the peephole and sees that it's Louie at
the door. She opens it.
LOUIE
Hey, I had lent you a pen in the
elevator, and-NASIM
Oh, yeah, I'm sorry...
She trails off as she heads toward the bathroom to retrieve
the pen.
NASIM (CONT.D) (CONT'D)
Come in. I left it over here. Just
give me a-Her smartphone on the kitchen counter goes off, and she's
back in an instant to see who it is.
NASIM (CONT'D)
(to herself )
God, what does he want?
(then to Louie )
I'm sorry, you're pen.
She heads back to the bathroom.
NASIM (O.S.) (CONT'D)
I noticed it's a really nice pen.
LOUIE
Thanks, it was a gift, and I try-CUT TO:

6.

INT. NASIM.S BATHROOM

She can't hear him, but he's still talking. She's in the
bathroom now and sees that the pregnancy test is showing a
positive sign. She covers her mouth as she begins to cry.
LOUIE (O.S.)
...to hold on to it. I mean, if it
was any old pen, I probably
wouldn't be here, but like I
said...
He can hear her weeping uncontrollably.
LOUIE (CONT'D)
If this is a bad time, I can return
later.
For a moment Louie makes a motion to perhaps go help her, but
hesitates and retreats out the door and back to his own
apartment.
INT. LOUIE'S APARTMENT
Louie is back at the stove putting the final touches on his
meal. He quickly and carefully serves himself a plate and
precedes to cover that plate with a lid to keep the food
warm. After putting leftovers in the fridge, he takes his
plate over to the couch, places the plate neatly on the
coffee table and drops a napkin covering a knife and fork
next to the plate. He heads back to the kitchen for a glass
of wine, then returns to the table, turns on the TV, and
takes his first bite when...
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY, LOUIE'S FRONT DOOR - NIGHT
Nasim knocks.
INT. LOUIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Louie hears the knock on his door, and gets a look of
annoyance on his face. He leaves his evening routine to
answer the door.
Hello.

LOUIE

NASIM
I'm sorry for not, I mean... uh,
your pen!

7.

LOUIE
Don't worry... Thanks-NASIM
No thanks, I mean, thanks. I just,
wow, well I just thought you must
think... I-LOUIE
No, no, I mean, I don't really know
you... You must have had a rough
day it seems-Nasim laughs.
NASIM
It has been. I don't know why. I
mean I do, it's just, I don't.
Well, I'm pregnant, and just found
that out, so, yeah...
LOUIE
Oh, um, wow. Congratulations-Nasim laughs again before her voice begins to stutter, and
she (and Louie) suddenly find her crying in his arms.
LOUIE (CONT'D)
You'll be ok.
NASIM
Yeah, no, I know... I don't know...
Damn, your apartment smells really
good.
LOUIE
Oh, yeah, I just made dinner.
NASIM
I'm interrupting. I better-Nasim turns away from Louie. Then turns back when he asks,
LOUIE
Are you hungry? Because I have
plenty and really, it's not a
problem.
NASIM
I didn't realize how hungry I was
until I smelled your cooking.
Come in.

LOUIE

He leads her into his place and she takes a seat on his
couch, and notices his meal in front of the TV. Louie is

8.

making her a plate.

NASIM
Dinner and a movie?
LOUIE
I was probably going to go with
PBS.
NASIM
An informative choice.
LOUIE
Are you okay with spice?
NASIM
I'm fine with it. I'm not really
picky with food.
Louie lays a plate in front of her.
LOUIE
(Gesturing to his belly )
As you can tell, food and I get
along great.
NASIM
Well, I get along with my
elliptical better than my stove.
Louie sits next to her. He picks up his glass of wine and
realizes she doesn't have a drink.
LOUIE
I'm sorry, do you want water or
something.
NASIM
(Enthusiastically )
Wine. Please.
Silence envelopes the room as they both think the same thing
at the same time: PREGNANT. Louie gets up and goes to pour a
glass.
LOUIE
You know back in the Middle Ages,
it was actually safer to drink beer
and wine that it was to drink
water.
NASIM
Thanks for the justification.
LOUIE
I read that a glass or two of wine
a day is beneficial to your health.

9.

NASIM
Your thinking of red wine. It has
antioxidants.
Louie brings her a glass of white wine.
LOUIE
Well, my doctor said white was best
for me for now... Gout.
Awkward pause.
Cheers.
Salud!

LOUIE (CONT'D)
NASIM
FADE TO:

Shots around Louie's apartment. A TV on mute, music playing,

and a nearly empty bottle of wine.
Louie and Nasim eating and conversing. Nasim is laughing.
LOUIE
It's true, I think cell phones are
creating an alternate reality
that's going to destroy us.
Nasim laughs.
LOUIE (CONT'D)
You think it's funny, but just
wait, you're going to wake up
someday, go to take your morning
dump, and suddenly you're going to
hear people just laughing at you!
Nasim falls over laughing, nearly spilling her wine.
NASIM
(through her laughs )
That makes no sense! I make it a
point to log off when I
(she makes a crude hand
gesture )
Log out?
(She's not sure if the
connotation works )
LOUIE
Ok, safe for now.
NASIM
Ha, yeah! No one's going to catch
me pooping!

10.

LOUIE
Holy shit, I think you're drunk I
think we're drunk.
NASIM
It's cool. I needed this. Work is
so shitty right now. And this
stupid baby.
Louie is quite. Nasim looks over at a framed photo of Louie's
kids.
NASIM (CONT'D)
You have kids. You like them?
LOUIE
Of course I like them. I'm mean
they can be little jerks obviously,
but you know, they're my little
jerks.
NASIM
And their mom?
LOUIE
She's a jerk too. We're divorced.
NASIM
Obviously, but I mean, does she
like them?
LOUIE
I hope so. They with her now.
NASIM
I'm getting an abortion.
LOUIE
(pause )
Well, that's one less set of baby
photos to deal with on Facebook.
Your friends should be thankful!
Nasim looks at him suddenly with a straight face as if she's
really upset.
LOUIE (CONT'D)
Oh, no, I was just
NASIM
Ha! You're such a sucker!
LOUIE
Hey, that was mean. I want you to
leave. Get out.

11.

NASIM
You're bad at that.
LOUIE
I know. You want another glass?
They both smile.
CUT TO:
INT. LOUIE'S APARTMENT - LATE NIGHT
The apartment is nearly pitch black. The darkness is broken
by a flashlight. We hear Louie's voice and realize it's him
holding the flashlight.
LOUIE
You're not going to win again. I'm
going to find you.
They're playing hide-and-seek in the dark. Louie shines the
flashlight throughout his apartment looking for her.
Eventually he spots her next to the piano, and she leaps out
of his spot light. He goes after her, and we hear a loud
crash.
NASIM
I'm safe. I touching the couch.
LOUIE
No, we said you have to be on the
couch. I tagged you. You're it.
CUT TO:
INT. LOUIE'S APARTMENT - EARLY MORNING
Louie and Nasim are laying on the floor with their heads next
to each other's and bodies in opposite directions, much like
the memorable shot in Hal Hartley's Trust, except for they're
looking up at the ceiling, not directly at each other and not
really touching.
NASIM
Sorry you thought I was such a
bitch earlier.
LOUIE
I'm used to it. People have so much
going on sometimes... you can't
help but treat other people like...
obstacles.

12.

NASIM
There's just always so much to do.
And I need it that way. Like, I
need to be busy. To know that...my
career, my ambitions are
worthwhile.
LOUIE
I still don't really get what you
do.
NASIM
I don't want to talk about it. It
sucks.
(she pauses, then decided
to talk about it )
I produce these digital campaigns
that are broadcasted on cable, on
the internet, basically on any
screen.
LOUIE
So, like advertisements.
NASIM
I hate calling it advertising.
LOUIE
So what do you call it?
NASIM
Digital campaigns that are
broadcasted on cable, on the
internet, and basically on any
screen.
LOUIE
That's not weird.
NASIM
I'm going to be a media mogul one
day. The most influential woman in
the world.
As she finishes this last sentence, she brings a glass of
wine into view and attempts to pour wine out of the glass
into her mouth without lifting her head off the floor. She
fails, and wine spills into her nostrils. She rolls off
screen laughing and wine snot dribbles out her nose.
LOUIE
Oh my god, someday I'll be able to
say I knew Nasim when she had wine
snot dripping out her nose onto my
carpet.

13.

NASIM
(laughing )
Shut up. When I laugh the wine goes
further down my nasal cavity.
LOUIE
Jesus, that wine's going to go
straight to your brain! You're
baby's going to be so drunk!
Nasim laughs really hard for a moment, then slows down into a
drawn-out weep and wail. Louie looks mortified.
NASIM
II don't want to be pregnant!
LOUIE
It's okay, you're getting an
abortion, remember?
Nasim wails louder at that comment.
NASIM
Of course I remember. Have you ever
had an abortion? No! You're a guy,
you've got a dick. You don't know!
LOUIE
Jesus, I'm sorry.
Nasim takes a deep breath, composes herself, and looks out
the window. Day is breaking.
NASIM
Want to go watch the sunrise on the
roof?
CUT TO:
EXT. BUILDING ROOFTOP - DAWN
Louie and Nasim are huddled together in a blanket. They watch
the sunrise.
CUT TO:
INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - MORNING
Louie enters the office, wearing sunglasses and holding a cup
of coffee. He sees his ex-wife, Janet, and his daughter,
Jane, in the waiting room. Jane lays on her mom as a sick
child would.

14.

JANET
Hey, thanks for coming. I have to
get to work.
JANE
Mom, don't leave me like this.
JANET
It's ok, Jane. You're dad's here.
Louie and Janet manage to swap positions so Louie is now
seated and holding Jane, and Janet is up and looking at them.
JANET (CONT'D)
I'll call you this afternoon.
LOUIE
Ok, I'll let you know how it goes.
Janet leaves, and Jane looks up at her dad. She lifts off his
sunglasses.
JANET
Daddy, you look like how I feel.
LOUIE
Daddy had a long night.
JANE
Daddy, I'm going to be sick again.
Louie picks her up with one arm, still holding his coffee
with his other hand. He heads toward the receptionist, who is
on the phone.
LOUIE
Got a sick girl here. Sick girl!
Trash can!
The flustered receptionist is reacting slowly, so Louie tears
the lid off his coffee cup with his teeth, takes a gulp of
coffee, then shoves the open cup in front of Lily who pukes
into the cup. Louie sets the cup down on the counter in front
of the receptionist as she looks on in bewilderment.
CUT TO:
INT. LOUIE'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON
Louie is on the phone with Janet. He walks around his
apartment while talking to her.
LOUIE
The doctor said it's probably just
a stomach bug.

15.

JANET
(O.S.)
Did they at least get some blood
samples or something?
LOUIE
Yeah, Lily wasn't so happy about
having blood drawn out of her, but
yeah, they're going to check her
bloodwork but it's probably just
going to pass.
Louie pops his head into Jane's bedroom. She's asleep.
JANET
Is she still sick?
LOUIE
Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I don't
think so. She's asleep.
He closes the door and walks around the apartment.
LOUIE (CONT'D)
She hasn't thrown up since this
morning, so that's a good sign.
Louie is around the entrance of his apartment when he notices
a note slip under his door.
LOUIE (CONT'D)
Hey, I'll call you back.
He hangs up and answers the door. Nasim is walking toward her
apartment.
NASIM
Oh hey, you're home.
LOUIE
Yeah, my kid isn't feeling good.
She's asleep.
NASIM
I never gave you my number...And I
was hoping, you'd call me... Later.
Oh, um...

LOUIE

NASIM
Not, well. I was planning to ask
you later, but I guess, I can just.
(she struggles to get
this out )
You're the only one who knows. Who
I've told, I'm pregnant. And, well,
(MORE)

16.
NASIM (CONT'D)
god, I've been out of it all day.
LOUIE
Me too. Like a zombie.
NASIM
Can't pull those all-nighters like
we used to, eh?
LOUIE
No, but it was fun though.
NASIM
Yeah. I needed that!
LOUIE
I'm sorry do you want to come in?
NASIM
No, I left work early to catch up
on some sleep. But, I stopped by a
clinic on the way home. I made an
appointment for the end of next
week, and...
LILY (O.S.)
Dad, help! I poo'd before I made it
to the bathroom. Help! I'm pooing
again! I can't stop! HELP ME!!
I gotta
Go.

LOUIE
NASIM

Louie hurries to help Lily.

CUT TO:
INT. LOUIE AND NASIM'S APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY - EVENING
Louie knocks on Nasim's door. She answers a moment later.
He's holding a plate of food and hands it over to her.
NASIM
Oh, wow! I was just going to order
out! Your kid didn't help you with
this, right?
Oh no, I

LOUIE

NASIM
Joking. Ha, ha.

17.

LOUIE
Damn, your the worst.
NASIM
Do you want to come in? I'm just
working and the place is a mess,
but you can come in.
LOUIE
No, I should get back to Lily just
in case she detonates again.
NASIM
Family man.
LOUIE
Yeah, but I think you were going to
ask me something before we got cut
off earlier... If you want someone
to go to this clinic with you, I'm
ok with that.
NASIM
Yeah, that'd be great. You have my
number now, so just text me yours,
we'll make a date out of it.
LOUIE
A, um, a date?
NASIM
Louie, if we're going to be
friends, you got to start getting
my sense of humor. Thanks for
dinner...again.
Nasim smiles before closing her door. Louie thinks for a
moment and chuckles as he walks back to his apartment. He
taps the archway of his apartment doora sign of delightthen
Lily screams,
Dad!

LILY

Louie runs.
CUT TO:
INT. CLINIC WAITING ROOM - DAY
Louie waits in a waiting room. Jump cuts as Louie passes time
looking through magazines, jabbing at his smartphone, and
laying back with his hand over his face. Then his phone
buzzes. It's a text from Nasim:
"Procedure's over but they want me to rest here for another

18.

30min. It's been forever, I'll understand if you need to be

somewhere."
Louie texts back.
INT. CLINIC EXAM ROOM - DAY
Nasim is in a hospital bed. Her phone buzzes. It's a text
from Louie:
"Ok, see you latter. Get well soon."
Nasim frowns. Her phone buzzes again:
"JK. I'm hungry tho."
Nasim responds.
"I think I'm hungry too. I just need a sandwich. Don't care
what's in it."
INT. CLINIC WAITING ROOM - DAY
Louie types on his phone:
"pickles?"
A moment later his phone buzzes: "love me some pickles :)"
INT. NYC DELI - AFTERNOON
Louie is standing behind a fancy-dressed woman who is taking
forever to order. He looks frustrated.
CUSTOMER
Hmm, I think I'll have the...
what's the difference between the
chicken Parmesan and the chicken
cutlet.
DELI GUY
One has Parmesan and tomato sauce,
the other has mayo and mustard.
CUSTOMER
Ok, and which one is which?
Really?
Excuse me?

LOUIE
CUSTOMER

19.

LOUIE
The chicken parm has Parmesan and
pasta sauce. That make it easier?
CUSTOMER
Well, I didn't know.
She turns to the delicatessen.
CUSTOMER (CONT'D)
Never mind, you're not getting my
business, and you can blame it on
this guy. (Whispering) You should
spit in his food.
She storms out.
Louie approaches the counter.
LOUIE
You're not going to spit in my food
are you?
DELI GUY
Not if you make me an order I can't
refuse.
Louie laughs a little, then orders like a pro.
LOUIE
Ok, two sandwiches. One hero and
one on a roll. Both with lettuce,
tomato, mustard and mayo...
Louie continues to place the order as we
FADE TO:
INT. LOUIE AND NASIM'S APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY - AFTERNOON
Louie and Nasim walk off the elevator and toward Nasim's
apartment.
NASIM
Thanks again for coming with me.
LOUIE
Yeah, glad to do it.
Nasim unlocks and opens her door.
NASIM
I'm going to hang out and try not
to work.

20.

LOUIE
Yeah, I'm just going to do the
same.
NASIM
Ok, so I'll talk to you later I
guess.
LOUIE
Yeah, later.
Nasim closes her door, leaving Louie alone in the hallway
with the bag of sandwiches. He realizes he hasn't given her
her food, and knocks on her door again. She answers almost
immediately.
NASIM
Hey, I don't want to be alone right
now.
LOUIE
I forgot to give your sandwich.
Oh.

NASIM

LOUIE
Want to watch a movie or something?
NASIM
Ok, but nothing with doctors, or
needles, or vaginas.
FADE TO:
INT. COMEDY CELLAR - NIGHT
Louie is on stage performing.
LOUIE
(Insert hilarious Louis
CK comedy rant)