An unpopular guy bonds with the popular girl at her going away party when it's revealed they're the only two people who showed up.
EXT. CONDO - NIGHT
RICHARD approaches the front door. He's holding a VERY LARGE PACKAGE, GIFT WRAPPED AND RIBBONED.
He rings the DOORBELL and waits.
NO ANSWER!
He rings the BELL again. Waits. Still no answer.
He tries looking through the PEEPHOLE but it's DARK inside.
Finally he tries the DOOR HANDLE. The door's UNLOCKED. He enters.
INT. CONDO - CONTINUOUS
STROBING LIGHTS paint colors through out the atmosphere. LOUND music is PLAYING.
All this exits Richard who begins to make his way upstairs.
His excitement is cut short as he reaches the main floor and discovers NO ONE!
MORE CLEAR, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE.
INT. CONDO - MAIN FLOOR - CONTINUOUS
Richard slowly makes his way through the room. He notices The banners, balloons and other party accessories that decorate the room.
On COUNTER outside of Kitchen there are tons of snacks.
INT. CONDO - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
He makes his way into the kitchen, there’s tons of food laid out on the stove and counters. He wrestles through containers and pots but doesn’t partake.
He looks at the fridge and sees photos, a GIRL in particular catches his eye.
He finally opens fridge and BINGO! BEER BOTTLES.
He takes a bottle. Opens up a drawer and removes a bottle opener. He opens the bottle and takes a sip, immediately spitting it out in the SINK.
As he looks up he can see a reflection coming from the outside Balcony. He can’t make out the reflection but it peeks his interest.
He goes back to the FRIDGE and pulls out two BEERS.
He makes his way toward the Balcony.
EXT. CONDO - BALCONY - CONTINUOUS
Richard enters Balcony . He notices ANNALESE sitting alone on a bench as he approaches.
RICHARD
Hi. I was waiting out front for minutes trying to get someone to answer the door. The door was unlocked so I just let myself in. Didn’t look like anyone was here.
ANNALESE
Makes sense why no one answered the door.
Richard brushes off her words and her tone.
RICHARD
Beer?
He extends the beer toward her.
ANNALESE
I don’t drink.
RICHARD
But there’s a fridge full of alcohol.
ANNALESE
Its for the people who do....
(retracting)
Was for the people who do.
Richard spies a chair opposite from Annalese.
RICHARD
You mind if I?
She shoots him a look.
Richard grabs the chair and sits down.
RICHARD
I’m surprised I’m the first one to show up.
ANNALESE
You’re not the first.
RICHARD
What you mean? Is someone else here.
ANNALESE
No.
RICHARD
Then...
ANNALESE
You’re not the first. You’re the only person showing up.
RICHARD
I don’t understand.
ANNALESE
Everyone else has decided to go to Bellas’ party instead.
RICHARD
Bella decided to have a party the same day as your party?
ANNALESE
Yeah.
RICHARD
But weren’t you all...
ANNALESE
Friends? I thought so.
RICHARD
That’s so messed up. I wonder why everyone decided to go to her party instead of yours?
ANNALESE
There were some people who were on the fence but she used the fact that everyone was going off to college so it made sense to spend the last party with the faces that were going in separate directions.
RICHARD
And you? You’re not going away for College?
ANNALESE
No. I’m staying local. Juco. That was the point I think she won them with.
RICHARD
She brought that up?
ANNALESE
Yes.
RICHARD
Damn. What a bitch. I wonder where she’s going?
ANNALESE
Stanford Law School.
RICHARD
Sounds about right. She’s already winning cases.
Annalese shoots him a look.
RICHARD
Sorry.
Beat.
RICHARD
Yeah I’m staying local too. Well for the first two years. Then I’m transferring. To me it makes more sense financially.
Beat.
RICHARD
What about you? How come you’re staying local?
She shakes her head.
RICHARD
What?
ANNALESE
Its stupid.
RICHARD
No. I’m sure its not.
Beat. She contemplates sharing.
Finally.
ANNALESE
I didn’t apply anywhere.
RICHARD
Why not?
ANNALESE
....because Of Allen, I wanted to stay local for him.
RICHARD
Didn’t you all break up recently?
ANNALESE
Told you it was stupid.
Richard drops his head. Has no rebuttal.
RICHARD
If you did apply, where is it you wanted to go?
ANNALESE
NYU. To study film.
RICHARD
But we live in LA. There’s a ton of film schools out here.
ANNALESE
I know but I wanted to go for the experience. Not just to say I went to film school.
RICHARD
I didn’t know you were into film? You weren’t enrolled in the AV Club or anything.
ANNALESE
Because I was a cheerleader not some AV Nerd... Sorry.
RICHARD
You don’t have to apologize I wasn’t in AV either...
(realizing)
Oh you meant the nerd thing.
He drops his head.
ANNALESE
...Sorry.
RICHARD
Its okay I know I’m a nerd. I actually like being a nerd. You know how that first day Freshman year you’re so anxious you don’t know if the butterflies in your stomach are coming from excitement or fear? Wondering where you’ll find your place, wondering what social group you’ll belong to?
She looks at him.
RICHARD
I didn’t have that. I’ve always been a nerd. Knowing who I was already, took the pressure off... Well some. The rest was focusing on Surviving.
He chuckles to himself.
ANNALESE
I thought I knew who I was but I guess I didn’t. I guess I’m still figuring that out.
RICHARD
Why cuz no one showed up to your party? Because you thought you were popular and then found out there was someone more popular than you? That’s bullshit. You do know it's you who defines who you are not others? Look you could’ve been a follower, you could have followed the rest of the followers but instead you chose to be different. That not only tells me, but shows me who you are. No one made that choice for you. You made that chose cuz subconsciously you do know who you are.
She looks at him, she’s touched and flattered. He smiles, likes finally being seen.
He breaks the moment as he remembers...
RICHARD
I’ll be right back.
He enters back into the Condo. Annalese continues to smile, this time to herself.
Richard shortly returns. He’s holding the PRESENT.
ANNALESE
What’s this?
RICHARD
Something I got you.
ANNALESE
You didn’t need to get me anything.
RICHARD
My mom taught me to never show up to a party empty handed.... If I was ever invited to a party that is.
She looks excited.
RICHARD
Open it.
She gives him a look, this one more gentle than the previous looks she was giving him.
RICHARD
Come on.
She tears into the wrapping to reveal a MIRRORLESS CAMERA still in the box.
RICHARD
Its shoots HD and 4K, Full frame. It also shoots in 24, 30, 60 and 120 frames. Google lists it as one of the top MIRRORLESS Cameras for the price.
ANNALESE
I thought you said you didn’t know I was into Film?
RICHARD
I didn’t but I knew from your Instagram that you love to take pictures.
ANNALESE
I feel like I should get you something.
RICHARD
No please don’t. I’m happy knowing your first award film might be shot with this camera.
ANNALESE
Thank you. This is honestly the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever gotten.
RICHARD
Don’t mention it. Maybe sometime when you’re free I can maybe show you how to use it?
ANNALESE
Yeah. Sounds cool.
RICHARD
Cool.
ANNALESE
Not to switch subjects but... You been holding that beer this whole time. You gonna open it?
RICHARD
No. I don’t drink either. Never acquired a taste for it.
ANNALESE
Then why did you grab it?
RICHARD
For common ground with the person who did...
(retracts)
Was for the person I thought did.
The share a laugh.
Written by Darion Taylor
(For education purposes only)
Copyright © 2020 by Darion Taylor
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
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