INT. THREE RINGS INTERGALACTIC GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE PARTY. MAIN HALLWAY.

Room is full of young professionals and thirty-somethings. Attendees in space-themed costumes are mixed among partygoers dressed in party clothes. MAYKA and boyfriend BILLIAM approach a small cluster of people. BILLIAM, clearly recognizing half of the people in the circle, makes to speak to someone in the circle. MAYKA, saying she is tired, sits down on the couch behind BILLIAM, still close to his standing legs.

MAYKA cycles through the most recent photos on her digital camera. She is alone on the couch, but obviously relishing the resting period. She does not look up once. Her knees are angled toward BILLIAM. A pair of men’s legs in slacks approaches the couch.

MAN #2

May I have a seat?

MAYKA recognizes the man as the same person who attempted to chat her up at the snack table while she was piling veggie chips onto her napkin.

MAYKA

Yeah, sure.

MAN #1

Having fun?

MAYKA

Oh, yeah, I’m just really tired.

MAN #1

Oh, yeah.

(pause)

MAN #1 turns to face MAYKA, puts out his hand.

MAN #1 (CONT’D)

I’m Edward.

MAYKA shakes EDWARD’s hand.

MAYKA

Hi, Edward. I’m Mayka.

EDWARD

Nice to meet you, Mayka. So what brings you to this party?

MAYKA

Oh, my boyfriend,

(gestures at BILLIAM)

…Used to work here.

EDWARD

Oh, nice.

(pause)

MAYKA

Yeah, it’s a great excuse to come back to this space. Do you work in gaming?

EDWARD

Well, I’m a student right now, but I hope so. I met some people who work here and they said I should apply for an internship.

MAYKA

Oh, cool! Yeah, it’d be a really fun place to work.

EDWARD

What do you do?

MAYKA

I work in fashion marketing.

EDWARD

Oh, cool.

Small talk continues. Eventually conversation completely dies down.

EDWARD

Well, nice to meet you, Mayka.

MAYKA

You, too, Edward! Good luck in finding a job.

CUT TO:

INT. THREE RINGS INTERGALACTIC GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE PARTY. SECRET ROOM.

BILLIAM leads the way as MAYKA follows. They are making their good-byes as the party winds down. BILLIAM sees former coworkers in THREE RINGS’ secret room, makes indiscernible greetings to them one-by-one. MAYKA lingers by the door, waving to BILLIAM’s friends as they say good night.

MAN #2, sitting on the arm of a couch next to the door, draws his hand to his chin and squints at MAYKA. He beings to loosely wag his finger at her, making obvious gestures that he recognizes her. MAYKA, noticing movement in her peripheral vision, turns toward the man.

MAN #2

You…Don’t I know you?

MAYKA

(smiling doubtfully)

No, we haven’t met.

MAN #2

But…You, you look really familiar.

MAYKA

Well, I’m usually really good with people’s faces, and I’m pretty sure we haven’t met.

MAN #2 adjusts his posture to sitting upright. He puts his hand out.

MAN #2

I’m Dane. What’s your name?

MAYKA tentatively shakes DANE’s hand.

MAYKA

(unsure)

Mayka?

DANE

How do you spell that?

MAYKA

M… A… Y… K… A…

DANE

Okay, yeah, we haven’t met before.

Just then, BILLIAM returns back to MAYKA, lightly touching his hand to her back.

BILLIAM

You ready to go?

MAYKA

Yup!

BILLIAM and MAYKA exit.

END

Okay, yes, I’m very grateful that these weren’t seedy guys at the club, and yes, I’m flattered that random strangers would think I look employed or interesting enough that I might be worth talking to, but seriously, how could you not see the man standing next to me?

And yeah, Dane, I’m so sure you’ve met thousands of other Asian girls who look like me named “Mayka,” just spelled differently.

Like I said. We haven’t met.

GDC parties

Ladies, the odds are good, but the goods are odd.