Beginn des Skripts, das Tobias Deml gemeinsam mit Sharon McNerney fuer unsere Screenwriting-Klasse verfasst haben.

Gemeinsam mit meiner Mitstudentin aus der Screenwritingklasse, Sharon, schreibe ich ein Skript. Uns wird aufgetragen, eine etwa 5-seitige Romanze zu erfinden, die etwas mit dem Thema “Abschied” oder “Zurückweisung” zu tun hat. Hier ist, was wir an einem kurzen Nachmittag am Sunset Blvd., in einem Cafe sitzend, produziert haben:

“DIRTY RAGS AND SHOPPING BAGS”

By Tobias Deml and Sharon Mc Nerney, 2010
tobias@tobiasdeml.com

FADE IN:

INT. SUBWAY TERMINAL – DAY

In the middle of rush hour at a New York City subway station mezzanine. ELIZABETH, a 35-year old, attractive woman in a white fur coat and several shopping bags suddenly stops and stares at a spot by the wall. She then runs to a nearby newspaper stand.

ext. newspaper stand – day

Elizabeth rushes up to the NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEE at the counter, a small-built Indian man in his early thirties.

elizabeth

Where did Henry go?  The homeless man who always sat there?

newspaper employee

You mean the one that left that dirty spot over there? He used to be there every day. I don’t know. He came her and said bye bye to me. Was talking about leaving to some harbor to catch some ship.

Back to – INT. SUBWAY TERMINAL – DAY

Elizabeth turns and runs through the crowd. She spots HENRY just as he is getting into the subway. Her shouts are drowned in noise. She runs down the steps onto the platform and leaps into the subway as the doors close.

int. subway - day

Elizabeth lands, her high heel breaks and two shopping bags get caught in the closed doors. She struggles, when a large, dirty hand reaches out to help her pry the door open.

henry

Let me help you with that.

The hand pulls the door open to let Elizabeth free.  She turns with relief to see Henry, a 40 year old, dirty, stinky, 6’3, built man in rags and a giant backpack on his shoulders.

henry

Elizabeth! So you made it?

ELIZABETH

Henry!

(catching her breath)

You really thought I would let you go without saying Goodbye, after all the change I’ve been giving you?

HENRY

Hold on.  You look like your ankle is spranged. You should have a seat.

(to a homeless train patron)

Can you please allow this lady to have a seat?

The homeless train patron gets up as Henry seats Elizabeth.  Henry thanks him and sits down next to Elizabeth.

elizabeth

I thought you were going to wait for me to say Goodbye?

HENRY

I’m sorry.  I waited and didn’t see you – I needed to catch the ship.

elizabeth

God.  You and your ship idea.  I can’t believe you’re actually doing this!  You’ve been talking about it for forever, but I didn’t think you would really go!

henry

Why not? I can be homeless anywhere, so why not in Costa Rica where it’s warm.

ELIZABETH

But New York City is so…

henry

(cutting her off)

This place is full of nothing but greedy Capitalists, investors, brokers, and shopaholics!

elizabeth

Come on. It’s not that bad.

HENRY

You have no idea!

The subway continues to drop people off until Henry and Elizabeth are the only riders left. They are engaged in a deep, personal conversation, both leaning in.

elizabeth

…and Henry, you are the only one that I can talk to as myself … not as the oh-so-pretty girl everybody just wants me to be.

henry

I don’t know why you are complaining. You have everything! You have your PhD. in Literature, a happy marriage, a trust fund, money and a lawyer to keep the bloodhounds away from it all. You really have no reason to be sad.

ELIZABETH

You have no idea! None of that brings you happiness. I have everything that everyone else dreams of, but I don’t have the one thing that I want.

Henry leans back with a sarcastic attitude.

henry

Oh really? What is that?

The train slows down.

ELIZABETH

It’s … you.

The train comes to a stop. The doors open with a hussing noise. There is a beat of silence as the two stare into each others eyes in surprise.

Announcer v.o.

Freight Harbor Station.  This is the last exit.

All passengers please exit to your right.

Elizabeth bites her lip and sadly steps outside with her bags. Henry grabs his huge backpack and follows her.

INT. HARBOR SUBWAY STATION – day

As the train begins to leave, Henry turns to Elizabeth.

henry

Don’t stop me.  You’re making a big mistake.

He walks away, heading towards the exit of the subway station.

ext. freight harbor entrance – day

Henry walks on a big, open area full of cargo containers, heading towards a wire fence that surrounds the harbor.

ELIZABETH

Henry!

HENRY

Oh my god.

(he turns around to face her)

What?

ELIZABETH

Henry, I can help you out. I need a writer to edit this script and you have such talent for words!  We could split…

HENRY

Not interested!

Henry begins to climb the fence.

ELIZABETH

(yelling up to him)

If you just believe in yourself, you could be huge. You would never have to struggle again.

Henry reaches the top of the fence and looks down to face Elizabeth.

henry

You are such a fool! Remember how I told you my wife took all my money? That was a lie!  You want to know what really happened?

ELIZABETH

Yes! Please, tell me!

Henry puts his leg over the fence to move to the other side of the fence.

henry

I was a dreamer, just like you – except without a rich husband. I was a writer. I wrote a screenplay and this huge producer made me sign a contract full of empty promises.

Henry throws his backpack from the top of the fence onto the ground.

HENRY

In the end, he had my script and I had nothing but bills.

Henry jumps down from the fence to face Elizabeth through the meshed wire fence.

HENRY

That’s how I ended up here.  You understand?

ELIZABETH

I had no idea, my god…

HENRY

You could never understand what it feels like!

Henry picks up his backpack and turns to walk toward the ship.  Elizabeth screams in anger, throws her shopping bags against the fence and walks right up to the fence.

ELIZABETH

That’s it! And now you’re just going to leave and let some producer asshole have his way?

HENRY

(turns to Elizabeth)

I don’t want to run away, but I have no choice. You don’t get it.

In the background, the cargo ship honks its horn. Henry’s eyes look back, but his body seems frozen. Henry and Elizabeth are only a few inches away from each other, seperated by the fence.

ELIZABETH

I do get it. I know what it feels like, but I also know that anyone that lets that stop them is a coward! (sighs) And I wouldn’t fall in love with a coward.

There is a beat as the two stare at each other. The ship honks. The two come closer and then kiss through the fence as the boat pulls away.

FADE OUT.

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