APRIL (44 pages)

[KingBlackDeath]

I finished this a few weeks ago and wrote it for certain people to be in it.
I'm shooting it soon (may/june) and I'm a bit unsure of myself.
When I wrote it I knew I was going to be doing everything (shooting, directing, casting, locations) on it, so it may be a confusing read. But, I've had people tell me "I can picture everything when i read it." So.
Please don't be cruel. I need constructive and specific criticism or just tell me I'm not crazy for spending 6 months and saving up ($1650) to get it made. (sorry this is a LOONNGG post, I just copied and pasted))
a few small character descriptions:
Arthur: Skinny, Lanky, 5'11'' blond/brown hair, laid back and likeable demeanor.
Owen: 5'11'' Black hair. Normal frame, wilder looking. A little more "loud and obnoxious" but generally likeable.
April: Skinny, fair skinned, long brown hair, pretty smile, kind eyes.
Joshua has a beard. Honey is a standard wife.


OVER BLACK, TITLE READS:

               THREE WEEKS LATER

                                    FADE IN:

1.   EXT. IN FRONT OF ARTHUR'S HOUSE – EARLY AFTERNOON

There is a long, straight dirt path leading from an old house in the distance. From near the house we see something coming towards us. It's hard to tell just what it is. We see that it is a man on an old bike. He moves at a leisurely pace, like someone out for a ride to the grocery store.
We eventually reveal that it is ARTHUR, 22, on the bike. He comes closer and closer. After a bit, he's right in front of us. He stops in the far right side of the screen. He gawks with befuddlement at something on the ground offscreen. He gets off his bike and sets it down. The camera holds for a few seconds while he bends over. Next, a shot above him looking down, as he picks up an OLD ROTARY PHONE. He stares at it for a few seconds. The camera pans up to reveal footsteps in the dirt that are leading from the phone all the way down the road. Arthur slowly walks a few paces. With the phone in his hand, he gets back on his bike and heads further down the path. A wide shot from above him tilts up; he is heading down the path.

                                    CUT TO:

   TITLE CARDS.

                     APRIL

                                 CUT TO:

2.   EXT. SIDE ROAD – EARLY AFTERNOON

Arthur rides his bike down a side road. He rides for a little bit as he approaches
OWEN, 22. He is standing in front of THE GROCERY STORE. He pulls near Owen and stops.
He parks his bike as ARTHUR and OWEN shake hands.

                  OWEN
            You're late.

                  ARTHUR
            How long have you been waiting?

                  OWEN
            About an hour.

                  ARTHUR
            Are you sure?

                  
OWEN
Yeah.

ARTHUR
Did we say twelve-thirty?

                  OWEN
            Yes.

ARTHUR
            What time is it?

                  OWEN
            One-thirty.

                  ARTHUR
            Well, I don't know what to say. I apologize.

They head towards the door of the grocery store. Owen spots the phone.

                  OWEN
            What's that?

                  ARTHUR
            Oh, I found it in my driveway on the way over.

They make small talk as they enter the store. The building is wood and looks like an old house converted into a store. They go inside.

                                 CUT TO:

3.   INT. THE GROCERY STORE – CONTINUOUS

The floor is wood and the store is one big room with shelves along the walls stocked with items. Arthur and Owen meander around while a CLERK sits behind a counter.
They look around for awhile and kneel down to look at things. Owen spots some
snacks that he wants to buy. He looks over at Arthur, then at the Clerk, who is staring off.

                  OWEN
                          (to clerk)
            Sir?

CLERK
     (snaps out of it)
            Yes?

                  OWEN
Hi. I'm going to get these. How much is all this?
   
   Owen hands the items to the Clerk. The Clerk thinks it over.

                     CLERK
               Four.

                  OWEN
            Okay, Here you go.

Owen reaches in a pouch and fishes out four shark's teeth. He places them in the Clerk's hand.

CLERK
            Thank you.

                  OWEN
Thank you.

The Clerk hands the items to Owen. Owen walks over to Arthur who is staring at something.

OWEN
            Are you ready to leave?

                  ARTHUR
            Sure.

                  OWEN
Are you getting anything?
   
                  ARTHUR
            No.

                  OWEN
            All right.

They head over to the door and exit.

                                 CUT TO:

4.   EXT. THE STEPS OF OWEN'S PLACE – CONTINUOUS

Arthur and Owen are sitting on the steps outside the store. Owen is eating gummi worms
out of a plastic bag. Arthur is sitting with his head in his hands. He looks up.

                  
ARTHUR
            Did you feel that?

                  OWEN
            What?

                  ARTHUR
            There was a charge.

OWEN doesn't say anything; he just eats his gummi worms.

                  ARTHUR
I think that was in my sleep.

                  OWEN
                 (half-acknowledging)
            Hm?

                  ARTHUR
            I've seen that before!

                  OWEN
            Yeah. I get that sometimes.

                  ARTHUR
            Are you ready to get going?

                  OWEN
            Let me go in and get the balls.

Owen goes in his house. Arthur sits. Owen comes out with a Bocce ball bag.

                  OWEN
            Let's Go.

They get up and walk over to their bikes. They plop down and start pedaling.
A shot of them riding away down the road.

                                    CUT TO:

5. EXT. TOWN – SAME TIME OF DAY

Hold on the door of a shop. A young woman opens the door and starts walking down the sidewalk. She is APRIL, 22. She struts cheerfully down the sidewalk. Holding a notebook.
She turns a corner and is out of sight.

                                 CUT TO:

6.   EXT. BEHIND A BUILDING – CONTINUOUS

APRIL walks to the center of an empty wall. She pulls a folded up notebook out of her back pocket. She sits down on the ground, back against the wall, knees supporting the notebook.
She reaches for a pen out of her pocket. She sits still for a few seconds, then starts to write.

                  APRIL
                   (v.o.)
The air pushes my door again. A gasp comes from
somewhere deep inside me. A sigh comes from somewhere
even deeper. I shiver and let the breeze writhe through me.
And if it were yellow paint there would be thick spirals
covering my stomach and back. I don't know where it escapes
from and that's not something I should know.
I allow it residence in my body for as long as it wishes,
I welcome it with certainty and regret ever
letting it go. But, it's not up to me. So, it is enough.

She sets her notebook down and lies down in the grass. As the wind gently blows she slowly and gracefully runs her hands along her arms. She closes her eyes and takes very slow deep breaths. The breathing "exercise" takes about 30 seconds. She lays still and lets the breeze weave around her goosebumps. She lays there. A young man enters the frame. He stands in front of her a little to the left. He is ISAAC, 23.

                  ISAAC
            Are you okay?

She slowly sits up against the wall.
         
                  APRIL
            Of course... I'm okay. Please... help me up.

She takes his hand and he lifts her up. April is feeling very relaxed and loose and talks in waves.

                  APRIL
            Thanks.

ISAAC
            That's okay.

                  APRIL
            Were you watching me?

                  
ISAAC
            No. What were you doing?
   
                  APRIL
            Nothing.

                  ISAAC
            What's your name?
         
                  APRIL
            I'm April.

                   ISAAC
            I'm Isaac.

They shake hands. He is smitten. She realizes this. She gives him a hug.

                  APRIL
            Thanks again. (end of hug) For your concern, at least.

He is in love. He begins to speak, but she turns away before he can get a word out.

                  ISAAC
            Wait...

She keeps walking. She has a forelorn look on her face that he can't see.
He is confused. She turns the corner.

                                    CUT TO:

7.       INT. ROOM – NO MATTER

We see black. We hear a chord progression coming from a rhodes. Hold on black for a little bit. Then pan up to reveal JOSHUA, 24, playing the part on the rhodes. He is fairly intense about it. After the progression is played a few times we hear a knocking. HONEY, 23, stands in the doorway.

                  JOSHUA
            Yes, honey?

                  HONEY
            Did you run those errands?

                  JOSHUA
            Yes.

                  HONEY
            Okay. (beat) Are you hungry?

JOSHUA
            No, I'm fine.

                  HONEY
            I've got a few things to do. I'll be back later.

                  JOSHUA
            Okay, honey.

                  HONEY
            I love you.

                  JOSHUA
            Love you, too.

Joshua gets back to playing the song. The music leads into and overlaps into the next scene.

                                    CUT TO:

8.         EXT. AROUND TOWN/OUTSIDE OFFICE – EARLY AFTRENOON

We follow April around while she is walking to work.
She arrives at her office building and goes inside. The rhodes playing rambles on.

                                    CUT TO:

9.   EXT. A BIG FIELD - DAY

Owen and Arthur are playing Bocce Ball. They play for a little while.
They play all through this scene and intersperse the dialouge throughout.

                  ARTHUR
            Are mangos any good?

                  OWEN
            I haven't had one in a while.
                  
ARTHUR
            This guy came up to me and said I have to try them.
            He had a half of one in his hand. It was that
            crazy guy on my road.
         
                     OWEN
               That one guy?
                  ARTHUR
            Yeah, the homeless guy. He stutters a lot.

Long pause.

OWEN
            Are you going to try one?

                  ARTHUR
            I think so. He made them sound so good.

                  OWEN
            Yeah?

Arthur nods. A long pause. They play for about thirty seconds.

                  ARTHUR
            Um-

                  OWEN
            Last time I got one it was old. It was too
late by the time I realized it.

ARTHUR
That's too bad.

OWEN
Well, you know...
   
They play.

                     ARTHUR
               What time is that thing?

                     OWEN
               In about two hours. It'll take us two hours to get there.

                     ARTHUR
               So, we should get going?

                     OWEN
               Okay. (pause) I win.
               
                     ARTHUR
               I know. I'll give you the money, don't worry.
               
They ride off on their bikes.

                                 CUT TO:

10. INT. A STORE/OFFICE – DAY

April is sitting at a desk reading a magazine. Her desk is wood with a sign extending up
from it that reads: KISSING BOOTH. We open up to reveal that the room is full of other
people sitting at desks. One says ADVICE, another says GAMES (the person at this table is playing backgammon with someone that has pulled up a seat), the rest are just people sitting at desks of varying sizes, doing work. She is clearly bored. BEN, 23, comes up to her desk. We see there is a small sign propped up on the desk that says 3 Dollars  per 10 seconds.

                  BEN
            Hi.

                  APRIL
            Hi, how are you.

                  BEN
            I'm good. Here you are.

He hands her three dollars (shark's teeth). She counts it.

                  APRIL
            All right.

                  BEN
            Should I just start?

APRIL
            By all means.
      
He leans in. She does a little bit. Before they reach each other, the camera pans away quickly and stops on her side pant pocket. After ten seconds she falls back into her chair. She has a dead look on her face. She doesn't look at him at all, she gets back to her magazine.

                  BEN
                   (overly smitten)
            Thanks.

                  APRIL
               Thank you.

   He walks away in love, but saddened. She keeps reading. She takes a deep breath and exhales.
   We slowly move back away from her. After moving back for a while, we slowly turn around
to the door/entrance, where RUSSELL, 22, walks in. He is sort of pathetic looking, but overly confident. We follow him over to the Kissing Booth. April looks up, like she always does.

                  RUSSELL
            Hi.
APRIL
            Hi, how are you.

                  RUSSELL
            I'm doing fine.

                  APRIL
            I've seen you before.

                  RUSSELL
            Yeah.

                  APRIL
            You've been here a few times.

Russell knows he's been here more times than can be counted. He nods along with her.

                  RUSSELL
            Yeah, just a couple. I stop by after work sometimes.

                     APRIL
Great. (beat) So how much?

                     RUSSELL
               Uh...I've got six.

APRIL
               Okay.

   He hands it to her.

                     RUSSELL
                          (takes a breath)
               Are you ready?

                     APRIL
               Sure.

Russell quickly leans in, before he reaches her, the camera reacts to this and jerks over
to the surface of the desk. After twenty seconds she plops down in her chair.
Once again, it's as if nothing happened.
APRIL
            Thank you.

We cut to Russell who thinks that maybe this time she'll fall in love with him.
She clearly doesn't. Russell has a rush of self-hatred and anger and unrequited love.
April doesn't see it. He rights himself.

                  RUSSELL
            Thank you very much.

He stands there. She looks up and gives a quick smile. She gets back to her magazine.
After a few seconds he walks off in a huff. We hold on her area for a little bit.
A bell rings. April looks up at a clock. It's Four o'Clock. She cleans up her area and slips
her jacket on. She looks around at everyone else cleaning up their areas and leaving.
A janitor walks by.

                  APRIL
            See you Monday, James.

                  JANITOR
            See you Monday.

April walks out the door.

CUT TO:

11.        EXT. ROAD – MID EVENING

Arthur and Owen are riding their bikes. They ride. They stop.

                     ARTHUR
               How far is this place?

                     OWEN
               Another ten minutes.

                     ARTHUR
               Are you sure?

                     OWEN
               Yeah. Definitely.

                     ARTHUR
               Okay.

   They breath for a bit, then start riding again. They ride off, the camera stays.

CUT TO:                                                                                                                
           
12.       INT. ROOM – NO MATTER   

Joshua sits at a small table in the room. He looks over at his rhodes and runs his hands
through his hair. He grabs a piece of paper and starts writing. He finishes and heads over
to his rhodes. He plays it. The playing leads into the next scene.

13.   EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD – MID EVENING

April is heading home. She walks up to her front door and checks the mail.
There are a few envelopes in it. She goes in her house.
Inside, her roommate BETH, 22, is sitting in a chair. April takes off her jacket and walks
over to the couch and sits down. Beth and her are uncomfortable with each other.

BETH
            Hi, April.

                  APRIL
            Hi, Beth.

Long uncomfortable  pause.

                  BETH
            How is everything?

                  APRIL
            Good.

A long uncomfortable pause.  Another roommate comes in with a bowl of pretzels.
Her name is SARAH, 22. She sits down, starts eating pretzels.

APRIL
            Hi, Sarah.

                  SARAH
            Hi, April.

Sarah turns to Beth.

SARAH
            When do you want to head out?

                  BETH
            About an hour.

                  SARAH
            That soon?

BETH
            It's a ways away.

SARAH
Are you ready?

                  BETH
            Pretty much.

                  SARAH
               I need to shower.

   Sarah puts the pretzels on the table and goes to the bathroom.
   There is nervous silence. April eventually gets up and walks into the kitchen.
   She stands in the kitchen feeling left out and afraid. She reaches for a glass out
of the cabinet and turns on the faucet. She stares at the water for a while, thinking.
She eventually puts the glass under the faucet. She takes a sip of water and pours
the rest in the sink. She wishes she didn't distrust people so much. She runs her hands
through her face and leaves the kitchen.

                                 CUT TO:

14.       EXT. ROAD – LATE EVENING

Arthur and Owen walk their bikes up a hill. They stop and sit down.

                  ARTHUR
            Are you sure you know- -

OWEN
            I know how to get there.

Long Beat.

                  OWEN
            We're just parking for a minute.

                  ARTHUR
            I believe you. (long pause)
            I don't know why we're bothering to go.
            Nothing happens ever.


OWEN
            Then why are we?
                  
ARTHUR
            I always seem to miss it when something does happen.

OWEN
            What happens anyway?

                  ARTHUR
            I don't know.

Long Pause. They get up and start walking again.

                  ARTHUR
            We might meet someone-

                  OWEN
            You mean meet a girl?

                  ARTHUR
            Maybe.

                  OWEN
            You never talk to them.

ARTHUR
            I know.

OWEN
When you meet one you don't say anything.

                  ARTHUR
            I know.

                  OWEN
            Not anything they want to hear.

                  ARTHUR
I know. Maybe this time I will.

                  OWEN
            Maybe a lot of things.

                  ARTHUR
            Maybe we should hurry up.
They get back on their bikes and ride off.

CUT TO:

15.       INT. APRIL'S HOUSE –  LATE LATE EVENING

April is sitting on the couch. Her roommates are on the way out. She smiles at them.

                  APRIL
               Hey where are you guys going?

                     SARAH
               Some party.

                     APRIL
               Yeah?

                     BETH
               Yeah, we're late, we'll see you later.

They walk out the door. April sits there for awhile. She starts to fall asleep. We fade out. In the black we see shadows of various people doing things. People that have changed her.
We fade back in. She lays there and opens her eyes. She lays there for awhile. She gets up and walks to the window. She pulls back the curtain and it is day outside. She walks back to the couch and plops back down. She remembers the mail that is sitting in front of her. She reaches for it.
She opens an envelope with a letter in it. She scans over it. (It is the same letter that Joshua was writing, there will be small details to make this evident) She grabs her phone. We sweep around to reveal the letter over her shoulder. There is some writing and then a phone number printed largely.
She shrugs her shoulders.

                     APRIL
               Might as well.

She dials the number. It rings.

                                    CUT TO:

16.       INT. JOSHUA'S ROOM- NO MATTER

Joshua sits and plays his rhodes. Honey comes in the room. He keeps playing.

                  HONEY
            Is that the last of it?

                  JOSHUA
            Pretty much. I've got the one thing still.
HONEY
            Definitely.

She bends around him and gives him a kiss. He kisses her back.

HONEY
            I'm going to bed.

                  JOSHUA
            I'll be down in a little bit.

                  HONEY
            Okay. Love you.

                  JOSHUA
            Love you.

Joshua almost starts to play. He decides to pack up and stop instead.

CUT TO:

17.       EXT. ROAD – SUNSET

Arthur and Owen ride their bikes on a road as the sun goes down behind them.
They arrive outside Susan's House. They park their bikes and walk over to the door.
Owen is slightly behind Arthur. Arthur knocks

                                 CUT TO:

18.   INT. SUSAN'S HOUSE - NIGHT

A woman answers the door, SUSAN, 23. Arthur is standing at the door.

SUSAN
            Hey, you guys, you're a little late.

ARTHUR
            Yeah, you know, we got lost.

                  SUSAN
            Yeah.

Owen comes in.

                  OWEN
            Hey Susan.
                  SUSAN
            Hey Owen!

OWEN
It's been a long time.

SUSAN
            Mm Hm. I've been really busy.

                  ARTHUR
                  (scans the room)
            It seems like everyone left.

SUSAN
            Yeah, more people should show up soon, though.
            You know, the lost crowd.

                  ARTHUR
            Of course.

                  SUSAN
            You guys make yourself at home.

                  OWEN
            We will.

There are between five and ten people sitting and standing around. Arthur and Owen make
their way over to a table with things to drink on it. They each grab a glass of something and
sit down in two chairs. They look around at the people. They sit for awhile. Finally:

                  OWEN
            Look at all the girls.

ARTHUR
            Oh, you be quiet.

                  OWEN
            We shouldn't have come.

ARTHUR
            It was your idea in the first place.

OWEN
            I did change my mind.

                  
ARTHUR
            You need to be patient.

Pause.

                  ARTHUR
            Should we have just stayed home?
            Played Bocce?

                  OWEN
            I guess not. (beat) We should play again tomorrow.

ARTHUR
            I'm always up for it.

OWEN
            We should play at that one place near your house.

                  ARTHUR
            Okay. (pause) Do you think I can win my money back?

Pause.

                  OWEN
            We'll see.

Long Pause.

                  OWEN
            I need to go to the bathroom.

Owen gets up and heads to the bathroom. Arthur sits there. He is uncomfortable by himself.
   We notice a girl standing in the corner. She eventually makes her way to Arthur. It is Sarah.

SARAH
               Hi.

                     ARTHUR
               Hi.

   He has a hard time making eye contact.

                     SARAH
               You look bored.

                     
ARTHUR
               I am bored.

SARAH
               You look it. What's your name?
   
ARTHUR
               Arthur.

                     SARAH
               I'm Sarah.

   They shake hands.

                     ARTHUR
               Hi.

   She sits down next to him.

                     SARAH
               How do you know Susan?

                     ARTHUR
               Owen, my friend Owen used to work with her.

SARAH
               Ah, Owen.

                     ARTHUR
               He's here. He just went to the bayroom.

                     SARAH
               Did you say bayroom?

                     ARTHUR
               Probably. (immediately) How do you know Susan?

                     SARAH
               Well, we were in theater together, a few years back,
               just the one year but we got along so well.

He nods his head. A pause.                     




ARTHUR
               I was in theater, too. I never got the lead.
               That's all I wanted. I didn't see the point in
               doing it unless I was really acting, you know?

   Sarah stops and looks at what she sees as rudeness, but she hides it as a look of interest.
   A small but noticable pause.

                     ARTHUR
               You two were in it just the one year?

                     SARAH
               Just the one year...
                                    
CUT TO:

19A.      INT. SUSAN'S HOUSE/UPSTAIRS – CONTINUOUS

Owen is in the bathroom and has flushed the toilet, he is washing his hands.
He stares into the mirror for awhile. He leaves and turns off the light. He walks
through the hallway to the bedroom. He looks around. He walks over to a small table.
There is a big book sitting on it. He looks through it a little bit. He becomes interested by it.
He sits down on the bed and starts to read.

                              CUT TO:

20.   INT. JOSHUA'S HOUSE – NO MATTER

   Joshua and Honey are sitting in a room. He is doing plans, she is knitting a shirt.
   
                     JOSHUA
               So how does it go again? The anniversaries?

HONEY
               Joshua, dear, for marriage it's one week,
one month, six months, one year, two year,
three years..et cetera...

                     JOSHUA
               Why one week?

                     HONEY
               That's no kind of question.

                     JOSHUA
               Okay. (long pause) When's the latest we have?
HONEY
               Two more days.

                     JOSHUA
               Really? Oh, that's plenty!

   Hold on them continuing on.

                                    CUT TO:

19B.   INT. SUSAN'S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS

   Owen is heading down Susan's steps. When he reaches the bottom it is completely black.
   We see very far away a man covered in white lights. He moves slowly.
This whole sequence has a million jillion things in it and will be very random and cannot
be scripted. A nurse analyzing his foot, Owen scooting around a house in a lawnchair. Shadows used heavily. Bits and pieces. Some of it may be used in other parts of the film. This is, of course, a dream sequence. That should not be necessarily spelled out, though.
It should last three to eight minutes.

                                 CUT TO:

21.   INT. SUSAN'S HOUSE – THE PARTY

Arthur is by himself. Owen comes into the room.

                  ARTHUR
            Hey, there you are.

                  OWEN
            I'm here.

ARTHUR
            I see

                  OWEN
            Have you talked to anyone yet?

ARTHUR
            That one girl over there for a little bit.

                  OWEN
            Yeah?

ARTHUR
            I think I messed it up though.
OWEN
            Well, that is to be expected.

                  ARTHUR
            She's coming back over.

Sarah walks up to them.

                  SARAH
            This must be Owen.

                  OWEN
               I'm Owen.

SARAH
               So, you worked with Susan?

                     OWEN
               Yes, a few years ago.

ARTHUR
               I told her.

                     OWEN
               I guessed.

Beth approaches the three of them.

                     BETH
               Hey.

SARAH
               Hey.

                     ARTHUR
               Hi.

SARAH
               This is Owen and Arthur.

                     BETH
               Hi, I'm Beth.

                     OWEN
               Hi.

ARTHUR
               Hi.

                     BETH
               So, how do you guys know Susan?

                     OWEN
               I used to work with her.

                     BETH
               Oh yeah?

                     OWEN
               Yeah. (beat) How do you know her?

BETH
               Through Sarah. Sarah and I live together.

                     OWEN
               Yeah? (beat) (to Sarah) How do you know her?

SARAH
               We were in theater together.

                     OWEN
               Okay.

SARAH
               Just the one year.

                     ARTHUR
               Yeah.

A long pause. Owen looks to Arthur. Arthur looks away.

BETH
                           (to Sarah)
               I'm thirsty.

                     SARAH
               Okay, We're thirsty, so we'll talk to you guys later.

ARTHUR
               Sure.
   
   The girls walk away.
                     ARTHUR
               I'm beginning to agree with you.

                     OWEN
               Yeah?

                     ARTHUR
               On some things.

OWEN
               Like what?

   Susan approaches them.

                     SUSAN
               Hey, guys.

                     OWEN
               Hi.

                     SUSAN
               How is everything?

                     OWEN
               Good.

                     SUSAN
               How've you been doing?

OWEN
               I'm doing good.

                     SUSAN
               Arthur, how are you doing?

                     ARTHUR
               I'm fine, I guess.

                     SUSAN
               You guess?

                     ARTHUR
               I'm pretty sure, you never know.

                     SUSAN
               Uh huh. Owen, can I get you for a minute?
                     OWEN
               Uh, Sure. (to Arthur) Are you gonna be all right?

                     ARTHUR
               I'll be all right.

   Susan walks across the room and Owen follows. They go through a door and shut it.
   Arthur is left standing alone. He does a "cheers" thing to someone across the room.
   He stands there.

SLOW   DISSOLVE TO:

22.       INT. SUSAN'S HOUSE – A WHILE LATER

Arthur is sitting on the couch. He sits for a long while. We show him looking at the door
   that Owen and Susan went through. The Door, him, The Door, him. He sits. He looks around
   the room and spots The Lightman from Owen's dream. He waves to him. Arthur waves back.
   The Lightman walks over to him and hands him a red box with a green bow tied around it.
                     
ARTHUR
               Thank you.

   The Lightman does not have a face, but a delicate and mangled voice comes from him.

                     LIGHTMAN
               I feel for you. You are right.

   Arthur looks down. He bends over in his seat until his head is to the floor.

                     LIGHTMAN
               Don't worry.

   The Lightman is gone and Arthur bends back up.

                     ARTHUR
               So boring.

   Arthur opens the box and there is a light in it.

                     ARTHUR
               What a surprise!
                                                                                                         
Arthur puts the box down. He gets up and walks across the room. He walks out the front door.

                                 CUT TO:

23.         EXT. OUTSIDE SUSAN'S HOUSE – NIGHT

Arthur walks over to his bike. He gets on it and rides off. This sequence will be rather long.
All through the night and into the day he rides. He is lost. He stops, turns around, makes
quick turns, etc...

                                 CUT TO:

24.      INT. ARTHUR'S PLACE – CONTINUOUS

Arthur opens the door and comes in. He sits down. He is sitting, exhausted, for a while when
there is a knock on the door. He walks over to answer it. It is Owen.

OWEN
            Hey.

ARTHUR
               Oh, hey.

OWEN
               Where'd you go?

                     ARTHUR
               What do you mean?

                     OWEN
               What do you mean, what do I mean?

   They sit down.

ARTHUR
               Well, you and Susan were in that room
for forever.

OWEN
Not really.

      ARTHUR
Anyway, what's going on?

      OWEN
Nothing. When did you leave?

      ARTHUR
Well, I just got home.

      OWEN
Did you get lost?

      ARTHUR
Yeah. Did you?

      OWEN
     (kind of confused)
No.

      ARTHUR
Oh.

      OWEN
Did you talk to anyone else?

      ARTHUR
No. I was waiting for you to come out.

OWEN
Why didn't you talk to anybody?
There was some cool people there.

      ARTHUR
I don't know. I felt weird.

OWEN
Yeah, but you always feel weird.

ARTHUR
I know.

   A breeze starts to blow. The wind gets stronger and stronger. They start to move in slow motion
   but their talking remains normal. The wind picks up more and more until it stops when noted.

OWEN
               You always say that.

                     ARTHUR
               What?
                     
OWEN
               "I know". It doesn't do you any good
               to sit around and "know".


                     ARTHUR
               I just don't know what I'm supposed to say.

                     OWEN
               Don't say anything. Just get over it.

ARTHUR
               I mean, with people. I don't even know where to start.

                     OWEN
               You just start. You just ask a girl how she's doing.

ARTHUR
               But, it's such a cliché.

OWEN
               Who cares?
               If you're being earnest none of that matters.

   Arthur nods to himself.

                     OWEN
               Listen. For thirteen years you've held yourself up.
               You've held yourself away. And I can't sit here
               and watch you do this anymore.
               You sit around and complain about nothing happening
               and you're the reason nothing happens!

                     ARTHUR
               What do you want me to do?

OWEN
               Not me...
               It's not what I want.
               Don't be afraid anymore.

The wind stops. Arthur stops and thinks for a second. He means it this time.
   They look at each other for awhile.

                     ARTHUR
               I know.

OWEN
               I've got to head home, get some sleep.
               
                     
ARTHUR
               Okay.

                     OWEN
               Do you still want to play later on?

                     ARTHUR
               Sure.

                     OWEN
               I'll be over at the field around five.

                     ARTHUR
               Okay.

                     OWEN
               See ya.

                     ARTHUR
               See ya.

   Owen walks out and closes the door. Arthur sits for awhile. He decides to go to bed.
   He starts getting down to his boxers and undershirt. He throws his clothes near his bed.
When he does, right before he gets in bed, the OLD ROTARY PHONE rings.
For a few rings he doesn't know what the noise is. He had put the phone down by his door
when he came in. He looks around and enters his living room. The phone is there. He walks
over to it. It isn't plugged in or anything. It keeps ringing.
   He picks it up.

                     ARTHUR
               Hello?

APRIL
               Hello?

                     ARTHUR
               Hello.

                     APRIL
               I got your letter.

                     ARTHUR
               Oh, yeah?

                     

APRIL
               Yeah. It was really sweet. (beat) Anyways, I'm really bored
               and I thought you might want to get together.

                     ARTHUR
               Um...what's your name?

                     APRIL
               You don't know my name?
               (to herself)Well, you didn't write it on the thing.
It's April.

                     ARTHUR
               Hi.

   BEAT.

APRIL
               What's your name?

                     ARTHUR
               Arthur.

                     APRIL
               Hi.

A pause.

APRIL
               So?

                     ARTHUR
               So?

                     APRIL
               So do you want to do something?

   Arthur thinks.

                     ARTHUR
               Uh...yeah. Might as well.

                     APRIL
               Might as well, great. Where do you
want to meet?

      ARTHUR
Actually- -

                                    CUT TO:

25A.     EXT. BIG FIELD – DAY

Arthur and April are standing next to each other in a field. They are far away.
A Bocce ball lands in front of the camera. (NOTE: This coming  dialogue will more than
likely change. The feeling of the scene won't though. What matters about this scene
is that it is clear that they are getting along very well. The scene will also probably be
longer. It is just regular "first date that is going well" chatting.)
*the pace of the speaking from here on out is at a normal speaking pace, not slow like it
has been up until now.*

ARTHUR
            Am I being hustled?

                  APRIL
            What?

ARTHUR
            You're doing awfully good for a first timer.

                  APRIL
            Thanks. I like this. This is easy.

                  ARTHUR
            It's my favorite game. (beat)
            Owen and I play it a lot.
            We won a few tournaments.

APRIL
            Yeah? When is he supposed to be here?

                  ARTHUR
            Pretty soon.

APRIL
            Great.

                  ARTHUR
            So....what do you do?

APRIL
            Like, for work?
ARTHUR
            Yeah.

                  APRIL
            Um. Nothing?

                  ARTHUR
            Nothing?

                  APRIL
            What's the score?

                  ARTHUR
            Oh, uh, I'm up nineteen to fourteen.

                  APRIL
            I'm on my way.

                  ARTHUR
            I hope not.
                     
APRIL
               So, it's my turn? To start it?

                     ARTHUR
               Yeah, here.

   He hands her the little ball and she throws it.

                     ARTHUR
               Oh, that's going to be hard. It's at that angle.

   Arthur throws his.

                     ARTHUR
               What the heck!

   She smiles/small laugh.

APRIL
               Who was the competition in these tournaments?

                     ARTHUR
               You don't want to know.

April throws her ball. It is closer than Arthur's.
                     APRIL
               So, I've pretty much won, right?

                     ARTHUR
               Keep in my mind I have a nine in clutch.

                     APRIL
               Now, I'm worried.

   Arthur puts his arm around April.

                     ARTHUR
               Don't think about it too much.

                                    CUT TO:

25B.   OWEN is arriving to the field/park on his bike. He looks at his watch.
   It reads 5:25. He pulls up to the camera. From a distance, He notices that Arthur is already
there and that he has his arm around April. He looks really confused for a second.
He thinks about and his happy for him. He doesn't want to interrupt. He gives a grin
and turns around pedaling the other way back.

                              CUT BACK TO:

25A2.   Arthur is laughing, April is a little bit. When he takes his arm away from her she looks at how
they are clearly getting along and that he likes her and she gives a look of almost terror.
She pulls away from him a little. Over the course of the next conversation she slowly reverts
back to her tendencies to not get at all close to anybody. She is distancing herself from him.

                  ARTHUR
            Do you want to play to thirty instead?

                  APRIL
            Sure.

                  ARTHUR
            Have you always lived here?

                  APRIL
            I moved here when I was eleven.

                  ARTHUR
            Oh.

                  ARTHUR
            Why'd you move here?
                  APRIL
            It's complicated.

                  ARTHUR
            All right. (beat) Do you ever go to Leroy's?
            For ice cream?

                  APRIL
            No.

                  ARTHUR
            Really? You have to, it's great. It's this ice cream
            Place on Woodlawn. All the waiters go (fakes holding a tray)
            "bee chee, bee chee, bee chee"

                  APRIL
            Yeah?

                  ARTHUR
            Yeah, no. They don't. I just look for an excuse to do
            That any chance I get.

   No reaction.

                     ARTHUR
               It's a condition I have.

   No reaction. He is confused by her sudden change in behavior. He almost feels hurt.
   He stops and does something funny with a Bocce ball. She smirks.

                     ARTHUR
               So, anyways....

                                 CUT TO:

26.       EXT. BRIDGE IN THE PARK – A LITTLE WHILE LATER

Arthur and April are sitting next to each other on a bridge.
She is still forcibly detached from him.

                  ARTHUR
            So I was just copying all my poems and stuff from
            these songs and she would always give me A's
            and make me read for the class.


                  APRIL
            Really?

Arthur notices her submission. He takes a breath.

                  ARTHUR
            Which high school did you go to?

                  APRIL
            To Wonsettler.

She is not even there.

                  ARTHUR
            Are you okay? Did I do something?
            It was going so good and you started—

                  APRIL
            I just want...(turns to him) I'm sorry.
                     I was sitting at home and I was lonely and I got
your letter and I figured I just wanted
            to give it a shot for once.

                  ARTHUR
            Look...

                  APRIL
            I'm not as ready for this as I thought. Things have
            happened to me and I can't let myself...

ARTHUR
            Look. Look at me. (she does)
            I Know. You don't have to worry. You can trust me.
            I promise... ten times over, I don't know, All I can do
            is say that I promise you that you can trust me.
            I won't hurt you. I never could.

                  APRIL
            I know. This isn't the first time someone's
said this to me. (beat) Believe me, I know.

                  ARTHUR
            But you don't know.

                  APRIL
            I do.
                  ARTHUR
                        (breaking up)
            No, you don't. Cause it's real this time.
            (pause) It's real, trust me.

She stares at him. She can see it in him. Her eyes get big. She smiles like crazy. She can't
hold still. She can't get over it, leaning towards him.

                  APRIL
            I know.

She kisses him and they kiss each other. The camera stays on them this time.
Wide shot as they pull away and stare at each other.

                                 CUT TO:

27.       EXT. OWEN'S FRONT PORCH – NEXT DAY

Owen is sitting on his porch. Arthur walks up the lawn towards him. They wave.

                  ARTHUR
            Hey.

                  OWEN
            Hey.

                  ARTHUR
            How's it going?
                  
OWEN
            Good.

                  ARTHUR
            That's good.

Pause.

                  ARTHUR
            Is the match on yet?

                  OWEN
            They're still doing the pregame stuff.

                     ARTHUR
               Okay.

                     OWEN
               So...Arthur...who was that girl?

                     ARTHUR
               So you did show up?

                     OWEN
               Yeah, I saw you two, I was afraid to interrupt.

                     ARTHUR
               Thank you.

                     OWEN
               So who was it.

                     ARTHUR
               Her name's April. Right after you left
she called me on that thing I found.

                     OWEN
               Really?

                     ARTHUR
               Yeah.

                     OWEN
               Why?

                     ARTHUR
                          (stops to think)
               I don't know. I didn't think much
about it after I met her.
               She said something about a letter.

                     OWEN
               That's weird.

ARTHUR
               Yeah. (beat) Well, I said she should come
play with us. We started talking and we just really get along.
She's cool. She started telling me about all
this stuff that's happened to her and we talked all night.

      OWEN
Wow. So you listened to me?

      ARTHUR
I guess. The thing is I probably would've gone on
being the same. After you left I was thinking
"He's right. I need to get over it."
But I know that would've only lasted 'til the next day.
I do that kind of thing all the time.
Then, like my fantasy situation happens and this beautiful
girl calls me and wants to go out. I'd have said Yes to that
anyday. It just happens this way.

      OWEN
So, you're gonna see her again?

      ARTHUR
Well yeah. She's coming over tonight.

      OWEN
          (suggestively)
Eh?

      ARTHUR
Nothing's gonna happen. Don't worry.

      OWEN
Okay.

   Pause.

                     OWEN
               It's probably starting by now.

                     ARTHUR
               Let's get to it.

   They get up and go in the door.

                                    CUT TO:

28.   INT. OWEN'S PLACE - DAY

   They are sitting with snacks about them watching a Bocce ball match on TV.
It is clearly the championships.

                  OWEN
            This is good.

Arthur nods.

                  ARTHUR
            Yeah.

Show them watching. Then we see footage of a few different well dressed men playing
Bocce ball. Like we are inside the TV. This goes in slow motion for awhile with nice music
playing. This music and pace blurs into the next scene.

                                 CUT TO:

29.   INT. ARTHUR'S PLACE - NIGHT

   Arthur and April are eating a romantic dinner. They play chess. Talk, laugh, etc.
Then the camera starts at the bottom of the bed and pans to the top. They are laying with their clothes on holding each other. Arthur is starting to fall asleep. They are happy. Music ends.

                                    CUT TO:

30.   INT. JOSHUA AND HONEY'S PLACE - NIGHT

   Joshua is playing music upstairs. Honey is downstairs drying dishes. She remembers something.
   She looks up at the ceiling to yell to Joshua.

                     HONEY
               Josh, dear!

   Joshua stops playing. We hear him coming down the steps.

                     JOSHUA
               Yes, Honey?

                     HONEY
               You didn't forget that last thing did you?

                     JOSHUA
               Shoot.

   He starts running around getting his shoes on, etc.

                     HONEY
               I reminded you yesterday.

                     JOSHUA
               It's gonna take me 'til morning to get it there!

                     HONEY
               If you leave now!

                     JOSHUA
               Where is the thing?

                     HONEY
               I put it by the door when I REMINDED YOU!

                     JOSHUA
               This isn't the time.
               (grabs an unidentified object wrapped in a handkerchief)
   I'll see you tomorrow!

                     HONEY
            Love you!

                  JOSHUA
            Love you!

Joshua closes the door and takes off down the street with the object in his hand.

                                 CUT TO:

31,   EXT. VARIOUS ROADS – VARIOUS TIMES

   Joshua runs in the night. Runs somewhere else in the night. Runs somewhere else.
   Runs in the pre-dawn. Runs in the dawn. Runs in the morning. Runs in the late morning.
   He runs somewhere that is recognizably close to Arthur's house.

32.   INT. ARTHUR'S PLACE - MORNING

Arthur wakes up. He is dressed. He looks around and hears noise in the kitchen.
He walks into the kitchen and April is sitting at the table sipping tea.
   
                     ARTHUR
               Good morning.

   He pecks her on the cheek. She smiles.
                     APRIL
               Good morning.
            
   He walks over and pours a cup. He stands by the refrigerator.
                     
APRIL
               How did you sleep?
                     ARTHUR
               Great.

                     APRIL
               Great.

                     ARTHUR
               I didn't wake you up did I?

                     APRIL
               No. Why?

                     ARTHUR
               I've been told I kick a lot.

                     APRIL
                          (taking a sip)
               Hm. (beat) No, I didn't feel anything.

                     ARTHUR
               Oh. Maybe I don't anymore.

                     APRIL
               What do you have to do today?

                     ARTHUR
                       (thinks)
               Oh. I'm supposed to meet Owen. He wants
               help with some thing, shopping for something.

                     APRIL
               When can I meet him?

                     ARTHUR
               Soon. (beat) When do you have to work today?
               (beat) What do you do, anyway?

   She Hesitates.
                     APRIL
               IIIIIt doesn't matter, now.
               I quit.

                     ARTHUR
               You quit?


                     APRIL
               Yeah.

                     ARTHUR
               When did you do that?
   
                     APRIL
               Yesterday.

                     ARTHUR
               Yesterday?

                     APRIL
               Yeah.

                     ARTHUR
               Are you gonna be all right?

                     APRIL
               You mean for money?

   Arthur nods.

                     APRIL
               No, not really. I have just enough for rent.
               But, trust me, I had to do leave that job.

                     ARTHUR
               Well, we can't have you running around with no money.
If you need to move in with me, you can.
               I said I'm here for you.

                     APRIL
               I was hoping you'd say that.

   He kneels down next to her.

                     ARTHUR
               Isn't it the end of the month?

                     APRIL
               Yeah.

ARTHUR
               When I get back, we'll get you settled in here.

                     APRIL
               Okay.

                     ARTHUR
               Then, tomorrow, together, we'll start
looking for a new job.

                     APRIL
               Sounds great.

                     ARTHUR
               Okay. Until then.

   Kisses her on the forehead while getting up.
   He stands up and makes a pose like someone taking off into the air.

                     ARTHUR
               I'm off.

   He walks to his room and puts on his shoes and overshirt (the same shirt from the first half
   of the film that he had thrown near the bed.)

                     APRIL
               When do you need to be there?

                     ARTHUR
               Actually, I'm already late.

   He comes back in the kitchen doorway.

                     APRIL
               Then I won't hold you up.

                     ARTHUR
               Okay. See you in a few hours.

   He gives her a kiss.

                     APRIL
               I'll be here.

                     ARTHUR
               Great. (makes for the door) Bye.

APRIL
               See you later.
   Arthur closes the door.

                                    CUT TO:

33.   END SEQUENCE

EXT./INT. ARTHUR'S HOUSE – EARLY AFTERNOON

   Arthur has stepped outside. He stops and smiles to himself. He is on his back porch.
   He starts to get his bike out of it's spot. He notices the tire is slightly flat. He grabs a tire pump.
THEN: Cut to Joshua running, clearly tired, on a road. He turns into Arthur's driveway (path)
and runs down it.
THEN: Cut to April sitting at the kitchen table, smiling. She becomes overjoyed and starts
kicking quickly. She yelps for joy. She jumps up.
THEN: Arthur is just finishing pumping up the tire. He puts back the pump and kicks the
      kickstand and starts rolling his bike.
THEN: Joshua runs in the path. He stops after a few yards and looks around. He unravels the
   object from within the handkerchief. He places the OLD ROTARY PHONE on
the path in the same place it was at the beginning. He looks around and heads for
a place to hide nearby.
THEN: Arthur is on his bike and has just turned the corner so he is heading down his
   long driveway (path). He starts pedaling.
   THEN: April has jumped up and is happy. She stops and runs over to the window and looks out.
THEN: Arthur is heading down the path on his bike. (No Joshua in sight)
He moves at a leisurely  pace. Like someone out for a ride to the grocery store. He goes past the camera next to him. The camera is then at the same shot as the first one in the film.
He comes closer and closer. After a bit, he's right in front of us. He stops in the far right side of the screen. He gawks with befuddlement at something on the ground offscreen.


                           CUT TO BLACK.

[Ghostboy]

I'm going to go ahead and get started on it, but it may take me a while....just so you know...

[KingBlackDeath]

thanks to anybody that'll read it and also there's one important note I forgot. Until it says something about going normal speed the acting and pacing and speaking in the film is going to be unusually slow and the dialogue is sort of purposely boring until the "event" happens. This is too show Arthur's boredom with his current life.

[Dendy]

WOW! Very impressed am I.

That was a great story.  You're very good at writing uncomfortable dialogue which we have all experienced.  My attention was held the entire time, and I was afraid that the ending would leave me hanging, but it was PERFECT.  Nice little bookend.  Does this take place in some alternate dimension, or am i just an idiot?  how old are you?

what's bocce ball?

[MacGuffin]

what's bocce ball?

Kinda like lawn bowling.

[Ghostboy]

I enjoyed it, but I'm glad you added that disclaimer about the first three quarters being purposely slow because I was going to say something about that. I'm sure it'll work fine in the movie...it wasn't boring in the script, either, it just did feel a bit slow. I felt that a bit of the pacing, the cutting back and forth between characters, was somewhat off, but again this is something that I'm sure will come more naturally on screen.

The only thing I didn't really like was the shark teeth. I love strange non sequitur unexplained obscurities in films, but every now and then they don't jive with me, and this one didn't jive.

I loved the almost random feel of the dialogue. The bit about the ice cream shop is my favorite...it's wonderful. Have you seen 'All The Real Girls?' There's a lot of dialogue like that in that film.

I think you'll be spending your time and money well on this project.

[KingBlackDeath]

Thanks. I needed some positive feedback.
I'm 20. I'll be 21 on the 19th.
Yeah, it sort of does take place in an alternate universe.
I'm glad you got that. I want to write two or three things placed in this this "universe" with different people in there and stuff. I kind of agree about the shark's teeth, but I just think it's funny. That this other universe uses shark's teeth for currency.
I'm really hoping that all the people that said they will help actually do help, people are hard to trust when you are asking alot of them and not giving much back. I screwed myself by writing a movie that is set on a day when it's nice outside and the characters are outside 3/4 of the movie.

THANKS AGAIN!!!