DUPEd!

A couple of months back, my best friend and I were extremely interested in making a short film; so I got down to writing a script for it. Of course, knowing we'd have a very restricted budget and that our use of location would be rather limited, we couldn't go overboard with our story. However, upon realising that it would be difficult to make with no prior experience, we decided to make an EVEN shorter film: a short SHORT film, hence.

However, what with all the work we have to deal with at school and such, we've never gotten around to making them- the short film and the short SHORT film. Yet, I thought it would be interesting to put up the script we came up with... for your reading entertainment.

This is the screenplay for our short SHORT film. Enjoy!

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DUPEd!

 

Written by
Dinesh Liyanage

INT. CAFÉ - DAY

Eighteen-year old MARK is walking towards the table with his CUP OF COFFEE, looking down and not really paying attention to where he is going...

SUDDENLY! He bumps into someone-- and the COFFEE spills onto that PERSON’s front!

MARK jumps, startled. But he’s not as startled- or as angry- as the other... a VERY BEAUTIFUL GIRL whom we’ll call CHRISTY.

CHRISTY

What the hell?!

MARK

Oh... God, I’m... I am so sorry--

In his panic, MARK grabs a NAPKIN from a nearby TABLE andattempts to clean the COFFEE off CHRISTY’s blouse, getting alittle too near her breasts--

CHRISTY

What are you doing?!

MARK

I didn’t mean--

(runs a quick hand through his hair)

I’m really, really sorry. Is there- is there anything I could do...?

In spite of her annoyance, CHRISTY is rather amused with MARK’s nervousness. Her glare subsides. She runs an interested eye over MARK... and unexpectedly smiles.

CHRISTY

It’s all right. It was my fault, shouldn’t have run--

MARK

No, it was mine. Should look where I’m going next time.

Pause. MARK nervously clears his throat. 

MARK (CONT’D)

Please let me make it up to you. Can- can I get you something to drink? Or to eat?

CHRISTY

Erm... Actually, I'm running late...

(checks her WATCH, looks at MARK's expectant face)

What the hell? I’ve got time.

MARK beams.
 

MARK

Great. Erm... What would you like? Coffee? Er-- probably not. Orange juice?
 

CHRISTY shrugs and gives him a smile that clearly says, “whatever you think is great”.

MARK (CONT’D)

Orange juice it is, then.

MARK goes to get two CUPS OF ORANGE JUICE. CHRISTY observes him standing at the counter... her interest in MARK is unusually creepy, like a watching tiger... MARK, though, is oblivious to the extra attention.
MARK brings the two CUPS OF ORANGE JUICE. CHRISTY reaches into her BAG--

CHRISTY

How much--?

MARK

No, no. My treat.
 

CHRISTY

Don’t be silly--
 

MARK

I’m serious. I still feel bad about what I did.

MARK sits with the TABLE. For a moment, silence. They sip their DRINKS, both aware of the growing awkwardness.

MARK (CONT’D)

(pointing to a PRETTY BRACELET on CHRISTY’s hand)

That’s very nice.

CHRISTY

Thank you.

MARK

Where did you get it?

 

CHRISTY

It was a birthday present.

MARK waits for more but clearly that’s all he’s getting. Another awkward pause.
Getting a little scared that he’ll have nothing to say to this girl, MARK looks around him frantically, as if looking for inspiration in the air...

...When he notices CHRISTY looking at something over his shoulder... the FOOD...

MARK

Are- are you hungry?

CHRISTY

(quickly catches herself)

No, no, of course not.

But MARK knows she’s lying... he moves off to the COUNTER.

After a few minutes, he returns. A WAITER come with a plate-load of FOOD and places it in front of her. CHRISTY smiles a little guiltily...

WE STAY IN A CLOSE-UP OF THE PLATE AS WE...
 

MATCH DISSOLVE:

...TO THE PLATE- NOW EMPTY- ONLY CRUMBS REMAINING...
 

CHRISTY and MARK finish off the last remaining FOOD. CHRISTY looks at MARK gratefully--

CHRISTY (CONT’D)

Thank you.

MARK
(shrugs it off modestly)

Don’t mention it.

For a long moment, they stare at each other, an attraction building...
 

Suddenly! CHRISTY gets up--

CHRISTY

I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’m late--

MARK is understandably disappointed. CHRISTY senses this. She takes out MONEY to pay for the FOOD but MARK stops her, shaking his head.

CHRISTY (CONT’D)

Mark, don’t be silly--

MARK

I told you, Christy, it’s my treat.

CHRISTY stares at him. She takes out a PIECE OF PAPER and scrawls something on it, glancing mischievously in MARK’s way occasionally... 

But she doesn’t give the PAPER. She folds it and goes--

I/E. CAFE - PAVEMENT - DAY

MARK follows her, curious.
 

They stand before each other. Beat... CHRISTY leans over and kisses MARK on his right cheek for a long time. At the same time, her hand reaches inconspicuously behind him.
 

CHRISTY gives MARK a final smile- puts the FOLDED PIECE OF PAPER in his hand, and leaves.
MARK stares after her, fascinated and captivated. Finally shaking himself out of the stupor, he goes back--
 

INT. CAFÉ - DAY

-- to his table, unable to stop smiling. The BILL lies on a plate, waiting to be paid.
 

EXT. PAVEMENT - STREETS - DAY
 

CHRISTY is walking at a brisk pace. A sly smile is growing on her face.

INT. CAFÉ - DAY

MARK reaches into his back pocket for his WALLET. Nothing. Unperturbed, he checks his other pockets. Still nothing. The smile drops, turning to alarm.
 

Suddenly, he looks outside, in the direction of the departed CHRISTY, the clouds of suspicion gathering...
 

EXT. PAVEMENT - STREETS - DAY 

CHRISTY holds up a WALLET-- MARK’S WALLET! Grins maliciously--
 

INSERT FLASHCUT: CHRISTY’S MEMORY- WHILE KISSING MARK ON THE CHEEK, CHRISTY DEFTLY SLIPS A HAND INTO MARK’S BACK POCKET AND WITHDRAWS HIS WALLET. 
 

INT. CAFÉ - CONTINUOUS

 
MARK opens the FOLDED PIECE OF PAPER-- a single SENTENCE scrawled on it:

“That’s for spilling coffee on me”

Stunned, MARK crushes the PAPER in his FIST.

EXT. PAVEMENT - STREETS - DAY

CHRISTY takes out the MONEY and tosses the WALLET over her shoulder... all this without breaking step.

The WALLET lies on the stone. The FIGURE of CHRISTY recedes into the distance as she walks away...

THE END.

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