Script Writing

Theme: Love and relationships

Set in an alternate universe where each love you have appears as a red tally mark on your wrist. The tally will turn black if that love is requited and will turn into a scar if that love dies.

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET – LONDON

We see a large section of street with people walking both ways along it. It’s cold, so everyone is dressed warmly, hats, gloves, the lot. You can see everyone’s breath in the air. A group of girls laughing and talking loudly together walk in from the right and are passed by a girl on her own, headphones on and noticeably trying her best not to come into contact with anyone on the street. Close on her. FELICIA, 15, carries on walking. She appears awkward. Something is making her uncomfortable and her pace is picking up slightly as she nears her home.

INT. FELICIA’S HOUSE – FRONT PORCH/BEDROOM – 22:30

First section of scene begins in the porch of FELICIA’s house as she comes in and hurriedly slams the door, hastily taking off her coat and gloves, hanging them up and then rushing to her room. Her room is moderately sized, with a single bed, walls covered in posters of various bands, animes and TV shows. In the corner is an untidy desk. FELICIA dumps her bag on her bed and makes her way to this area, digs her way through piles of paper and opens a laptop. She is nervously bouncing her right leg as she waits for her laptop to load Skype. Finally, she clicks on a contact, JARED, and calls.

INT. JARED’S ROOM – 17:30 – NEW JERSEY

Not much can be seen of JARED’s room. It’s dark, the curtains are closed and JARED is only lit by the light from his computer screen. He’s playing a horror video game and is at a very tense moment of it. He’s startled and jumps as the Skype ringtone suddenly plays just as a monster runs towards him. He answers the call.

JARED

[GENERIC NEW JERSEY ACCENT] Jesus Christ, Feli, that was bad timing, no, terrible timing! Oh my god…

FELICIA

[GENERIC ENGLISH ACCENT,SOMEWHAT UNNECESSARY EMPHASIS ON CERTAIN SOUNDS] [THROUGH JARED’S SPEAKERS] Woah, are you… Are you okay?

JARED

Am I okay? Am I okay? There I was, playing Black Plague, just started even! The music changes, lights go out, you know I gotta hide, right? Right! So I run into the room and where do I gotta hide? One miniscule overturned table, plus I need to get to the damn medicine cabinet in the corner and, god damn, this is the first time I’ve played this, I ain’t quick enough to do this, but I try anyway. I think I’m just about to do it, then, bam! This crazy lookin’ monster appears, then bam! Skype call! I got terrified, damn it!

FELICIA

[FELICIA CAN BE HEARD SNIGGERING THROUGH JARED’S SPEAKERS] [BETWEEN SNORTS OF LAUGHTER] Sorry, dude!

JARED

Hey, it’s not funny!

FELICIA

[STILL TRYING TO STIFLE LAUGHTER] Okay, okay, I’m sorry!

JARED

Hmph. What’d you call me for anyway?

CUT BACK TO FELICIA’S BEDROOM

FELICIA

Ahh… Well, something happened today and I’m kinda worried… Ahh, more startled than anything…

JARED

…Startled? What happened, Feli? Is it bad?

FELICIA

Well, that’s the thing, I don’t know! I… I got my first tally…

CUT TO JARED. HE SMILES. CUT BACK TO FELICIA.

JARED

[HE SOUNDS DELIGHTED] [THROUGH FELICIA’S SPEAKERS] Feli! That’s great! Wait, what colour is it?

FELICIA

It’s red.

JARED

Aww, my dearest Feli’s in love!

FELICIA

Don’t mock me! I’m older than you! What’s important here is that I have no idea who I’m in love with… And it’s killing me… Well… I have an idea, but I’m sure you wouldn’t be so crazy about the idea.

JARED

…what is it? [PAUSE] Is it that asshole you were seeing last month? Is he back?

FELICIA

Ahh, no, no! It’s… Oh, god, Jared, I… I think it’s you.

Camera focuses on Felicia’s face for a moment. There is an extended tense pause before FELICIA speaks again.

Jared, I’m sorry, I… [SHE PAUSES, LOOKS TO HER WRIST. THE TALLY HAS TURNED BLACK.] Jared… It turned black…