NOTE: The following scenes are presented the way they were presented to the actors, crew, etc. Some of these scenes are in the film - some are not -- some might be, others won't. In keeping with the spirit of this project - (a notebook) - these pieces of text are just that - notes taken about what I might want to shoot.

TO THE ACTORS/Shooters/Misc. Folk
THIS SCRIPT WAS NOT WRITTEN IN THE TRADITIONAL
SCREENPLAY FORMAT –
THERE are reasons for this:
1 - I don't want to know how long a scene is going to take to play (ie - 1 page = 1 minute)
2 - I don't want this to follow ANY form
3 - I never want this to feel like we are making a film
4 - this film IS a notebook

Of course there will be action and activities – but they are to be discovered as we work – not predetermined.
Also there may be times when I use your names (actors) instead of the characters names – this
DOES NOT mean that there is some difference in the way the scene is played.

****************

SCENE: A record. Spinning. They dance. In a dark room.

Harry: This is going to be a good life.
Harriet:Not too long, I hope.
hy:No not too long.
ht:But good.
hy:Yes. A good life.
ht:And you do love me, right?
hy:Of course.
ht:This is going to be a good life.

************************

SCENE:

Harry and Harriet on the bed. Ready for sleep.

Harriet: Did you ever imagine we would spend our nights like this?
Harry: How do you mean?
Harriet: I mean – feeling so alone even though we’re together.
Harry: No, I never imagined that.
Harriet: Me either.
Harry: We’ll be ok.
Harriet: Sure we will, Harry.

Cut – they are asleep, cuddled in each other’s arms.

That night I had a dream that Harry and I were caught in a rainstorm. But it wasn’t raining. (Shoot this – maybe running through the street – avoiding the rain – that isn’t falling – him trying to protect her from getting wet with his jacket)

And I also dreamt that I was the winner of a beauty pageant – but no one was present to witness it. (shoot in theater – her with sash – MISS AMERICA)
****************************
SCENE: The Immaculate Misconception

Harriet: I’m pregnant
Harry: Jesus Christ. What do you wanna do?
Harriet: I don’t know. What do you wanna do?
Harry: Jesus Christ.
Harriet: Please don’t say those words.
Harry: Sorry. How are we gonna afford something like a baby?
Harriet: There’s ways.
Harry: So you want it?
Harriet: Yeah.
Harry: Then I guess we gotta get married.
Harriet: Ok. Where are you goin?
Harr- To get you a wedding ring.
Ht – it’s 7 oclock in the morning, harry – you can’t get me a wedding ring at seven oclock in the morning.
HRY: Hey! This is America.

******

A man walks into a kitchen and sits on a chair – it breaks and he tumbles to the floor.
“Oh Christ.”

A woman walks into the kitchen and sees him laying on the floor.
“Get up.”
I can’t
Why not
I think I broke my back.
Stupid, you didn’t break your back. Now get up. We’re going to be late.

He gets up.

6 months later

Harry: How come you ain’t been to a doctor or something.
Harriet: The baby died inside of me.
Harry: Jesus Christ, When? Why didn’t you say something?
Harriet: I was scared.
Harry: Were you ever gonna tell me?
Harriet: Yes.
Harry: So we got married for nothing.
Harriet: That’s a terrible thing to say.
Harry: Jesus Christ. That baby didn’t die of natural causes – I’ll tell you that. That baby killed itself for fear of what was to come. A sense of hopelessness.
Harriet: Isn’t that what always leads to suicide?
Harry: I don’t know – you’d have to ask someone who killed themselves.

America

The leaves fall off trees and die
The water rushes along a tiny stream
The grass is covered with frost
Halloween decorations covering trees and bushes

A little girl runs in circles in a yard.

***********

SCENES;

Jim prepping for Chocolate lady (song)(get shauna voice over saying I’ll be back on….) he marks the calander – she doesn’t come – he slowly disrobes and ends up back where he was – sitting in his underwear on the chair.

**********
SCENE: A DARK ROOM

Today is my birthday.
And to celebrate I’ll throw a little surprise party.
No one will know it’s a party?
No - that’s the surprise.

Imagine the look on everyone’s facces when they find out it’s a party.
Certainly it’ll be a look of surprise.
One would hope.

One often does
And one is often dissapointed.

Look – Someone’s gonna get hurt. And I mean in a big bad way.

You gonna hurt me? Tough guy?

I’m gonna hurt you real good.
Real bad?
Real bad and real good.
Let’s get on with it.

*********************************

SCENE: MUSCLES

He’s doing push-ups. Naked. Fast. Hard. He sweats. He’s doing sit-ups. Fast. Hard. He sweats. He’s doing push ups. He sweats.

SCENE: FRUITS OF LABOR

He stands, naked, sweaty in front of her. She is sitting on a stool. He smacks her across the face. She looks back. He smacks her again. She looks back. He smacks her a third time, when she looks back blood is pouring from the corner of her mouth. She cries. He walks away.

*******************************

Marriage:
1. Med. Close – Hand held – some vows
2. MED. FROM behind preacher static
3. CU ring on finger thru kiss

*****************

Check Montage
Checks – (start October – April is a double Month – March April) January and May are Cash. September says
– ONE YEAR LATER in the pay to order of space.

One year of Marriage Montage:
1. Harry and Harriet playing Cards – no dialogue
2. Harry and Harriet watching TV – no dialogue
3. Harry Has a Morning Cocktail
4. Harriet is sitting by herself singing a religious song
5. Harry Gets drunk, passes out on floor, Harriet calls to say no baby no more
6. Harriet in bed, Harry walks in and tells her it’s 2 o’clock in the afternoon, maybe she should get up
7. Harry and Harriet watching TV – Harry says he doesn’t want people calling the house
8. Harriet- it’s my birthday – he has gotten her a carton of smokes?
9. Harry is jerking off in the bathroom – Harriet hears something – asks him if he’s okay – he gets pissed
and can’t finish the job
10. They watch TV – what if we were other people?
11. Harry drunk on the floor, Harriet says – why don’t you come to bed
Harriet Sleeping Alone
Harriet waking up alone
Harriet all dolled and has prepared a birthday dinner for Harry. He never shows.
12 - Jordana sex stuff - him cheating
13 - Shots of time passing. She finally giving up.

(c)2008 dj mendel