Writing Exercise

Writing Exercise

Writing Exercise #1

(QuentIn Tarantino Inspired)

FADE IN

Ext. Backyard of Glass House. Summer Evening.

A man with RINGLESS FINGERS stares at a photograph. The man (TOM) is late 20s, slim, dressed in CHEAP CLOTHES along with the DAVE (late 30s) and SAM (late 20s) behind him. Tom is sitting at an outside bar while they’re sitting in lawn chairs. There’s a woman on the picture (MADISON. Early 30s. Looks like a model) The back of the pic says “if you change your mind, you know where to find me ?”

The backyard has a new in-ground pool and is surrounded by hedges. Extremely nice property.

Dave:

Wait, so this little girl calls her dad by his first name? What the hell is that? That would never fly in my household. What ever happened to respecting the family? Hey Tom, you hearin’ this s**t? (Beat, annoyed) Hey, Tom. Wake up. (Tom turns around, quickly tucks away picture) You hearin’ this?

Tom:

Sorry, I was thinking of something.

Dave:

(Sarcastic) Oh, you were thinkin’ of somethin’. What were you thinkin’ about? (long beat) Well?

Tom:

Yeah uh. It would be…….extremely weird to call actors by their first names.

Dave:

Huh. Not as weird as your own damn parent.

Tom:

Probably not, but think about it. We say their full names all the time-

Dave:

(Rolls eyes) Actually, YOU say their names all the time.

Tom:

Fine, I say their full names all the time that it feels like they only have one name. If we were actually working with say, Jim Carrey, we obviously wouldn’t call him Jim Carrey. We would just call him: Jim. “Hey, how’s it going Jim?” It’s weird. It’s like cutting a sentence shor-.

Sam and Dave both look at each other, confused.

Dave:

(Long beat) You know, maybe if you stopped day dreamin’ about Hollywood and started thinkin’ bout something a little more manly like, oh I don’t know, CONSTRUCTION for example, you may have yourself a girl. (Sam laughs)

Tom:

Ha. Right. (Smiling/ashamed)

CUT TO Ext. Front Entrance. Same Time

4 people exit the building. First couple are wearing cheap clothes. Second couple are wearing high end clothes. The second couple is MR. EDWARDS (Late 30s) and MADISON EDWARDS.

John:

(Surprised) Uh, thanks for inviting us, sir. It was a great party and it was very nice to meet you, Madison. (Madison smiles)

Amy:

Any chance of another one in the future?

Mr. Edwards:

As soon as I find something else needing to be fixed or added, I’ll let you know.

Couple laugh. Mr. And Mrs. Edwards don’t.

Amy:

Come here, honey. (Amy and Madison hug) I’m sorry about the baby. If you need someone to talk to-

Madison:

-I’ll be fine.

The couple give confused looks.

Mr. Edwards:

(Beat) Wow honey. Are you sure you don’t want to talk about that? (stern)

Madison:

I think so...

Mr. Edwards:

Huh....that’s the great thing about marriage, your spouse never stops surprising you.

John:

Yeah, and your workers. I’ll see you Monday. (Shakes hands. Gets in car and drives away.)

Mr. Edwards gives a stern look at his wife.

CUT TO Int. Entrance. Moments Later

Sam, Dave, and Tom are getting their shoes on. Madison smiles and bites her lip when she sees Tom. She walks toward him as the others exit.

Madison:

Hi. He has $500 if you beat him at chess this time.

Tom:

I fail to understand why someone would wave $500 over my head with no intention of giving it to me. Does he know about us?

Madison:

Of course not. How could he? He knows he won’t lose. Prove him wrong. You can do it.

Tom:

I’m sorry, Madison. I can’t do any of this. Right now, I just need to work. (He starts to walk away)

Madison:

He lied about me being pregnant and losing a child for a little bit of attention. What’s really messed up is that I kinda wish that happened. I would at least have the sensation of pregnancy for a little while. God. What is wrong with me?

CUT TO Int. Basement. Sometime later

Mr. Edwards and Tom are playing chess. $500 dollars is in a cabinet nearby. A quarter of Tom’s pieces are missing and only a couple are missing on Mr. Edwards side. Tom is terrified to look at his boss. Madison is serving drinks and food to her husband.

Mr. Edwards:

So, how’s your acting going? You moving to Hollywood yet?

Tom:

No.

Mr. Edwards:

(Beat) No? Care to elaborate? You talk about this stuff more than actually working.

Tom:

I’m just really focused on the game, sir.

Mr. Edwards:

Then how is it you lost your rook? (Edwards takes out his rook) You sure you’re focusing on the game?

Tom:

Of course. You’re just a clever player.

Mr. Edwards:

I am, aren’t I? By the way, thanks for building the pool. My wife sure loves it, don’t you honey?

Madison:

(walks over) Oh yes. It’s a very nice...thing. A bit cold for me though.

Mr. Edwards:

Really? Tom, you said the heater was on. Is it or were you just giving me a little performance?

Tom:

I can assure you-

Mr. Edwards:

You see, this is a problem with actors. You can’t ever tell when they’re being real or fake.

Tom:

I’ll make sure to look at it before I leave, sir.

Madison shakes her head in disappointment and leaves.

Mr. Edwards:

(Hushed) Listen to me, Tom. I need your advice. My “wife” is trying to make me look bad. She’s saying that I’m lying to my co-workers about her pregnancy for some sick reason. That I’m doing it to get sympathy? What the hell? Tom? (Tom pays no attention to him) You don’t believe me, do you?

Tom:

She just doesn’t seem to be that kind of person, sir.

Mr. Edwards:

I thought that too when I first met her, but I was wrong. It turns out she’s just: pretty girl #666.

Tom’s eyebrows raise. He finally looks at Mr. Edwards

Tom:

You can get a divorce.

Mr. Edwards:

I can’t do that. I know she’ll just lie to the authorities about me if I do, then she’ll just do it to someone else. I-

Tom:

Oh, let someone else deal with her evil ways.

Tom doesn’t realize he has a very excited demeanor and a massive smile on his face. Mr. Edwards is ready to make checkmate.

Mr. Edwards:

Wow, Tom. You just became merciless very abruptly.

Tom stops smiling and calms himself somewhat.

Tom:

You wanted my advice, sir.

Madison (O.S.) :

Advice for what?

Madison walks up.

Mr. Edwards:

Advice on kickin’ his a*s in chess faster. He’s getting quite good.

Madison:

Really? (Looks at Tom)

Tom:

(Beat) No. Not really. (Stands up) Actually he was telling me a bunch of nonsense about you. That you are basically another Amber Heard. Sorry Mr. Edwards, but I don’t believe you. Since this marriage is clearly not working for you both, you should just divorce and let her find someone else. (Giant smirk)

Mr. Edwards:

You want to take care of her? (a shocking smirk) Good luck with that. Get out of my house. You’ve spent more than enough time here. And don’t bother showing up for work. I hope she’s worth that trouble.

Edwards winks and Tom is not sure how to make all this. He and Madison leave and just get in the car.

CUT TO Ext. Parking lot. Night.

Mr. Edwards watches through the window, too dark to see his face. Is he pissed off or is a free man?

Madison:

I don’t ever want to see this place ever again. Go!

Tom reverses out of the driveway, but stops on the road. Unsure of what to do.

Madison (Cont.):

Tom? What is it?

Tom sits for a moment contemplating. He looks at Madison worried. His mouth opens-

CUT TO Black.

End Credits