Untitled Fast Forward Film Project 2 Script
FADE IN:
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
(In one continuous shot) ZACH BAKER stands holding a phone to his ear. He’s five foot seven and has short brown hair. He has an innocent face, he’s wearing an apron and he looks a little stressed out. A cash register is to the left of him, people sit at tables in the distance.
ZACH
(flustered, not in control)
Yeah I know Mom, I got it all under control... no I’m fine, you’re just stressing me out okay. I know how to do this job, it will be easy, I just gotta stay cool and the money will come, don’t worry.
A woman sitting a table next to him looks up briefly.
ZACH (CONT’D)
What don’t you understand, I’m not making a scene...why don’t you believe me, here -
He walks up to the woman.
ZACH (CONT’D)
(off phone)
I look calm and collected right?
The woman shrugs.
ZACH (CONT’D)
(too the phone)
You see mom, the nice lady next to be can see that I’m fine. Okay, I need to hang up on you, okay, I love you too, bye mom.
He puts down the phone and walks into the kitchen, grabbing a plate with a coffee on it he turns and walks past people and tables, sets the coffee on one, the continues outside, past other tables and grabs an empty plate from another. He pauses, looks out over the water and sighs.
MAIN TITLES
EXT. STREET - DAY
A WOMAN, dressed in a green coat the reaches to her knees walks fast and confident. Her hair blows in the wind and she wears large glasses.
EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY
The woman sits down at a table and pulls out a book.
INT. RESTAURANT - SAME TIME
At this moment, Zach looks up. Spotting her, he grabs a menu and walks outside, still looking at her.
ZACH
Would you like a drink for starters?
She looks up at him and smiles.
WOMAN
Only a lemonade, please.
ZACH
(mesmerized by her)
Sure thing...
He turns and leaves. Quick in a flash, he sets the lemonade down on her table.
WOMAN
That was fast.
A tiny umbrella bobs up and down in the cool liquid.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
(referring to the umbrella)
This is cute.
ZACH
Oh, is it?
She nons her head and takes a sip.
WOMAN
It’s really good. What’s your name?
ZACH
Zach.
WOMAN
That’s a nice name.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
You’re blushing.
Zach blushes and hangs his head.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
Maybe it’s the sound of the waves, or your cute fascination in me... but I really like it here -
ZACH
So do I. That’s why I work here, I mean not because I’m cute or anything but -
WOMAN
Let me drink my Lemonade Zach, and we can talk tomorrow if you want.
Zach stands there for a few seconds, realizes it’s his cue to go, turns quickly and trips over the chair. He stumbles up and walks away quickly.
INT. RESTAURANT - SAME TIME
Zach stands next to the cash register, staring out the window at the woman. SASHA who works at the restaurant stands next to him.
ZACH
(looking out the window)
Look at her...
SASHA
I fine, thank you.
EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Zach sits next to the woman.
WOMAN
Sure you’re not supposed to be working right now?
ZACH
(looks over his shoulder)
It’s fine for the moment. So, tell me about yourself?
WOMAN
I’m a bad girl Zach.
Zach is not sure what to say.
ZACH
Um... I like bad, I think.
WOMAN
(laughing)
Oh you do?
ZACH
Well, maybe not?
WOMAN
You’re not sure?
ZACH
Depends how bad I guess...
Sarah is serving someone else and can be seen watching them. The woman notices.
WOMAN
What’s her name?
Zach is caught off guard.
ZACH
Who?
WOMAN
The little waitress who’s been starring at you the whole time.
ZACH
(surprised)
At me?
WOMAN
Well definitely not me.
ZACH
(nervous)
You sure?
WOMAN
(startled)
Excuse me?
ZACH
Sorry, yeah her name is Sasha.
WOMAN
Sasha likes you Zach.
ZACH
You think?
WOMAN
(sarcastic)
Are you surprised?
ZACH
I always thought she was too good for me.
WOMAN
Crazy, it’s the other was around.
ZACH
Then...
WOMAN
Then what?
Zach pauses and leans further in.
ZACH
Do you think she’s bad enough for me?
The woman smiles and takes a sip of her lemonade.
INT. RESTAURANT - LATE AFTERNOON
Zach and Sasha are clearing a table. Few other people are left in the restaurant.
SASHA
(looking down)
Good day?
ZACH
(looking at her)
It was okay... you?
SASHA
Same as always.
ZACH
That’s good.
SASHA
How’s your friend?
ZACH
Who?
SASHA
The one you’ve been drooling over?
Zach says nothing and looks down.
ZACH
It’s not like that.
SASHA
Whatever you say Zach.
ZACH
You don’t get it.
SASHA
Then explain it to me.
ZACH
It’s not that easy.
SASHA
Fine, I’ll see you later.
She walks away, Zach stands there and hangs his head.
EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Zach sits next to the woman. She is drinking a lemonade and eating a garden salad.
WOMAN
I like talking to you Zach.
ZACH
(innocent)
I like you too.
The woman smiles.
WOMAN
You’re funny... you kinda remind me of myself, a while ago.
ZACH
Just less awkward probably.
WOMAN
Not by much...
ZACH
So what do you do, you know, for work?
WOMAN
(smiling)
You changed the subject.
ZACH
Sorry, I just really wanted to know.
WOMAN
Why?
ZACH
Because you seem successful.
WOMAN
Do I?
ZACH
Yeah, and I’ve never felt... very successful at anything.
WOMAN
(pausing at first)
I run my own business.
ZACH
(nodding)
That’s nice.
WOMAN
(leaning in)
Listen, Zach, you have nothing to worry about. Just be yourself and everything will be fine.
He nods his head again and stands up.
ZACH
Thanks, it really means a lot to me.
WOMAN
(more serious)
No problem.
Zach is about to walk back inside when the woman grabs his arm.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
(voice low, serious)
Go talk to her.
INT. RESTAURANT - SAME TIME
Sasha is clearing a table and Zach comes over to help.
SHASHA
(sarcastic)
Are you trying to fail because I could have sworn this just happened yesterday.
Zach looks down, then out the window. The woman is sitting there, smiling at him. He smiles back.
ZACH
Look, I’m sorry about yesterday.
SHASHA
I’m touched. I have work to do Zach.
ZACH
I’m not kidding.
She stops and looks up at him.
SHASHA
Then get it out.
ZACH
I’m hot for you.
EXT. RESTAURANT - SAME TIME
We realize that Zach and the woman have been talking about what he is going to say.
After he tries his first pick up line, we see the woman cringe.
INT. RESTAURANT - SAME TIME
ZACH
I love you.
EXT. RESTAURANT - SAME TIME
WOMAN
(a little shocked)
But you don’t love her.
INT. RESTAURANT - SAME TIME
ZACH
You love me...?
EXT. RESTAURANT - SAME TIME
WOMAN
(shaking her head)
That’s weird Zach.
Zach nods his head and stands. We follow him as he walks into the restaurant. He walks up to Sasha.
ZACH
Hey Sasha, can I speak with you real quick?
SHASHA
(turning, not in the mood)
What it is Zach.
ZACH
(sighing at first)
Okay, I know I’m not really the type of guy you usually hang out with, but I would really like it if you saw a movie with me... or something like that.
She smiles.
SHASHA
It took you long enough.
She grabs his hand, writes her number on his palm and leaves. He beams.
EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY
A glass of lemonade is set down on a table. Zach sits next to the woman.
WOMAN
(smiling sweetly)
By the look on your face, I would say you had a really rotten time.
ZACH
You know when you’re scared of something and you just need that last push to get you over your fear?
The woman nods.
ZACH (CONT’D)
Well you’re kinda like that push. If you know what I mean.
WOMAN
(grinning)
I am kinda pushy...
ZACH
I feel like I should return the favor.
WOMAN
(smiling)
Oh, no you don’t have to. I’m not afraid of anything anymore.
ZACH
Bull shit.
WOMAN
The truth.
ZACH
Spiders.
WOMAN
Love them.
ZACH
Heights.
WOMAN
I live for them.
ZACH
(leaning in)
Dying.
WOMAN
(also leaning in)
Willing and ready.
ZACH
That’s it, you’re afraid of dying.
WOMAN
How do you know?
ZACH
(slowly)
You know you’re too good to die.
The woman smiles and takes a sip of her lemonade.
EXT. SIDEWALK - NIGHT
Zach is walking down the sidewalk and the sky is dark. He continues to walk and then pauses as he comes across an ally. A green coat can be seen at the far end.
Curious, he begins to walk slowly down the ally.
As he gets closer he realizes that it is the woman. He ducks and gets against the wall. The woman is talking to a MAN and his car is parked next to them. All of a sudden, the man grabs her by the arm.
She struggles and Zach begins to run towards them.
ZACH
(frantic)
Hey, get your hands off her!
The woman turns in surprise and the man lets go. He turns as well.
The woman starts to back away.
MAN
Who the fuck are you?
ZACH
(nervous)
Just don’t touch her like that.
MAN
(approaching Zach)
I can touch her how I want. That’s what I pay for anyway.
Zach realizes that she is a prostitute. He freezes and his eyes widen.
ZACH
Don’t hurt her. She’s too good for someone like you.
The man punches him in the face. Zach falls to the ground. Blood trickles from his nose.
The woman comes out of the shadows. She grabs onto the mans arm, but he pushes her away and she slams against the wall.
ZACH (CONT’D)
(jumping up)
NO!
MAN
(standing defensively)
Don’t think about it. Just get lost kid, you’re ruining my night.
ZACH
Let her come with me.
MAN
Shut up.
ZACH
(speaking to the woman)
Come with me, this guy is crazy and you know it.
The woman stars at him and nods her head. But she walks slowly up to the man.
MAN
She’s not going anywhere.
She nods and walks up next to him. Zach stars at them.
(haven't written the ending yet)
Comments
What a change in direction
What a change in direction from the first draft. I wasn't buying her dialogue in the beginning until you reveal her character towards the end of this version. It makes a lot of sense how she would interact with Zach. I had a funny interaction with a stripper in a shoe store once that reminds me of Zach's interaction with WOMAN (and name yet?). Zach's change in confidence seems quick, but how you show the scene between WOMAN and him with the pick up lines would justify this. I am really curious to see how this ends.
Writing a story with a prostitute as a main character is a big challenge. You need to be careful to not make assumptions about how a woman who depends on this line of work would act or speak. I would encourage you to work with the person whom you have identified as your actor to possibly go over some of the dialogue with you. I might even suggest looking into some autobiographies of prostitutes just to make sure you can develop a proper biographer for your character. For some examples of Risky Business is an old pop movie that has a main actor as a prostitute. Bette Davis plays one in Marked Woman from 1937. She might be a great character study. Elizabeth Taylor plays one in Butterfield 8. She sounds like a similar character to yours.
Happy movie viewing!!
I'd echo a lot of Joe's
I'd echo a lot of Joe's comments -- wow, what a shift from the first draft that I read! I know I've said this before, but I really like how you work with multiple drafts of a script because, as you've shown here, you go a bit deeper and in new directions each time.
I'm glad Joe asked about the name for the woman -- I think if you give her a name, it will make her less of a stereotype.
Question about the beginning scene - is the woman here the same as WOMAN? I thought it was a funny opening scene and establishes Zach as kind of awkward. But if it's not the same woman, I think you need to find a way to bring her in or to tie the opening more clearly with the rest of the film. Otherwise, it's just a cute scene with Zach that then shifts into a very different kind of piece.
Where do you envision this going?
Good work!
thanks for reading
thanks for reading guys.
yeah, you're totally right about her name.... It's the hardest thing for me to come up with for some reason.
The opening scene with that other woman was meant to show Zach as being easily stressed, making too much out of nothing... and his quirky side... I saw that scene as being pretty quick, also shot in one continues shot which alone can show that he's constantly freaking out or something... it's a nice contrast to the woman, and the shots with her and Zach are going to be pretty steady and slow.
I agree about the prostitute thing.... I'm gonna work on that and i want to talk to you about it during class sometime
I also might want to add more to the dialogue in some places
And finally, I have NO IDEA how to end it. Initially I was thinking that Zach would find her as a prostitute and she would run off because she was embarrassed. This makes sense according to her character, because she had just spent all this time with Zach where he saw how confident and commanding a person she was, she might think that she was kinda lying about herself. But the twist is that Zach follows her and tries to tell her that he doesn't care, she's still the same great person that she always was.... and then something else happens to end it, not sure what.
Hey Corey! I'm the intern
Hey Corey!
I'm the intern during the Thursday class but Joe told me to check out your script. I'm really impressed! You are off to such a strong start! I read it a few weeks ago and it has really stuck with me. Of course the ending is the hardest part but it will come to you. Anyways, I was checking out the calender for Harvard Film Archives and there is a festival of this guy name Max Ophuls from January 23- February 9. He is a French director that worked a lot during and around WWII, bouncing between France and Germany. His specialty is extreme desire and passion and most of his movies are intense love stories. There is one in particular that is playing January 24th at 7 pm (which is a Saturday) called Le Plaisir and it is about a farmer that falls in love with a prostitute. I think all of his films might be helpful to you but this one deals more closely to your plot. Just thought I would pass it along incase it maybe inspires and ending or you just want something fun to do on a Saturday!
Here is the website for more information: http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/films/2009janfeb/ophuls.html
Good luck!
Lenora
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