AWARE Read online
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- Short Film Script
After party
Interior. Morning. The camera, stationary, low- first we see The Boy’s feet; the rest of him (from behind) slowly comes into shot as
The Boy wades through bodies and bottles to the light of garden door
Outside. Profile of The Boy as he breathes fresh air. Early twenties, cool haircut, but doesn’t look like he’s trying, or knows. Hungover.
Voice (Offscreen)
Did you have fun last night?
The Boy
Yeah it got pretty crazy [turning to Her after]
Camera pans up to Her sitting on garden wall, sun shining, blocking her face, or any details- a pretty silhouette
Her
Did you have sex with a girl?
The Boy
No
Her
With a guy?
The Boy
[Nervous half laugh] Nah…Did you?...have sex I mean, with a guy or girl?
Her
Both
The Boy
Oh
Her
Guys are easy. Girls are easier. They say they’re ‘curious’ but they’re ‘not sure’ and they’re ‘scared’ but they know really. I mean I’m a girl too- I know they know, you know
The Boy
So where did you…
Her
In someone’s bedroom- there was a surprising amount of straws in there, which, surprisingly, were very handy, and also the toilet. The downstairs one, with the mouthwash in a vodka bottle- again, very handy
The Boy
Cool
Her
So I’m tired can I lie down, you live here right?
The Boy
Sure
Her jumps down from the wall, wearing blue jeans with too many rips and holes with a black t-shirt. Her’s hair is black with faint silver and pink ends, with two tight braids on either side of her face. Black eye shadow (a lot). New wave hipster queen, but she doesn’t care.
Cut to a room with anime and movie posters. Its small- the bed seems to take up most of the room. The Boy leans against the doorframe, Her by the bed. Her undresses, taking off her t-shirt, jeans and socks, while The Boy thinks about looking away; he does occasionally. Her lifts back the duvet and lies down.
Her
Are you gonna lie with me too? [It’s not a question]
The Boy
Um yeah okay
He walks to the other side of the bed like he’s late for an appointment and lifts up the duvet
Her
With your pants on?
The Boy
[Looking at her like she’s speaking another language] No I just- I tho- no yeah [takes off his jeans and gets in. Quickly]
Cut to a bird’s eye view of the bed. Her on the left, The Boy on the right, both staring up at the ceiling. Her is smiling like she’s seen a squirrel find a long lost nut. The Boy’s eyes are darting.
Awkward lying
Eventually Her comes closer to The Boy and places her head on his shoulder with her arm around him. Looking like a sturdy couple on a Sunday morning before the alarm goes off.
Her
How many girls have you had in this bed?
The Boy
How many guys’ beds have you been in? [Wrinkling his brow]
Her
Are we answering questions with questions? [Toothy grin]
The Boy
I don't know, are we? [Smirk threatens to break]
Her
[Grin disappearing] Do you love me?
The Boy
Do you love me?
Her
Do you write letters?
The Boy
[Straight-faced] Can you read?
Her
[Lifting her head up and hitting his chest like a sitcom] Rude!
The Boy
[Little chuckle] Sorry
Her
[Looking at him dead in the eye, squinting slightly, leaning closer] So do you?
The Boy
Do I what?
Her
[Closer] Love me
The Boy
[Looking away] We just met
Her
So?
The Boy
I don't even know your name
Her
[Putting head back down onto his chest] Okay okay, but do you think you could love me?
The Boy
I think maybe
Her
Why? [Smile grin]
The Boy
Well you don’t seem to beat around the bush at all, and I like that. And you were wearing a cool t-shirt, so I think you might be cool, and if that’s the case, I could probably love you one day, like after we have a massive fight or something and I show up at your apartment with a pizza instead of flowers
Her
Pizza is a very good shout
The Boy
Right?!
Her
We wouldn’t even eat it though
The Boy
Why?
Her
Cause I would just jump you and we would have sex right there in the hallway to my apartment
[Pause, not awkward]
You like my t-shirt?
The Boy
Yeah, The Story So Far are amazing, I haven’t seen them live though. I guess you got the shirt from a show right?
Her
Yeah, it was one of the best nights of my life. I danced so hard that the t-shirt I was originally wearing, a plain white shirt, went see-through with all the sweat and some guy gave me that shirt so I dunno I didn’t get molested on the way home or something
The Boy
That’s cool
Her
The funniest part was that I lost my voice so I couldn’t even thank him
The Boy
What about your friends, did their shirts go see-through too?
Her
I didn’t go with friends
The Boy
Oh okay
Her
You want it?
The Boy
What?
Her
The shirt
The Boy
It’s yours
Her
Nah, some guy gave it to me via the mysterious powers of the universe, I simply have to pass it on eventually. Lets swap
[Her picks up the shirt from the floor and holds it out to him…he reluctantly takes off his and they swap]
Hey don’t put it on yet
The Boy
Why?
Her
You have tattoos
The Boy
Yeah
Her
So I wanna see obviously!
[Her examines his back, shoulders and ribs. Taking her time, mouthing words to herself as she does so. The Boy just looks awkward through all of this.]
Okay lie down again I’m still tired
[She traces the lines of a tattoo on his ribs]
What does it mean?
The Boy
What does anything mean?
Her
We’re not doing that anymore!
The Boy
It’s Japanese it says ‘mono no aware’
Her
Meaaaning…
The Boy
Its that bittersweet feeling of transient beauty
Her
[Sitting up again] Say it again
The Boy
[Slowly, looking into her eyes occasionally] Mono…no…aware
Her
[Into his eyes] Mo.no.no.ah.wa.ray
The Boy
Yep
Her
I like that
The B
oy
Same
Her
I have tattoos too
The Boy
Can I see?
Her
Maybe one day [winking and dramatically biting her bottom lip]
[Pause]
[Lying back down] So what’s the most beautiful thing you’ve witnessed?
The Boy
You
Her
[Laughing] Seriously!
The Boy
Um I nearly drowned one time and there was this moment where I gave up trying to breathe and get my head above water. Not like I gave up and wanted to die, I don’t know. But I was sinking and looking up at the sun and it just looked like a Van Gogh painting or something. Then I got pulled up and it all disappeared
Her
So were you like dying?
The Boy
I guess
Her
My beautiful thing is the way blood flowers and blooms in water. How it looks warm and light and pure and just alive and you realise that that’s life. This liquid is what runs through me, you and everyone else ever
The Boy
Yeah
Her traces her fingers along his chest then his slightly defined abs, he’s not cut or anything, then down under the sheet to his boxers]
Her
You’re hard…[Pause]…very hard [raising her head once again, looking at him with a open mouth smile]
The Boy
That’s what happens when a beautiful girl does that, its an involuntary response, what are you even doing right now?!
[She takes his hand and takes it under the sheet to her underwear.
Eye contact. Her leans in to kiss The Boy but holds it there…pause…she licks her lips and smiles a toothy grin, taking her eyes from his eyes to his lips and back. Leans even closer in, but is ready to pull back any moment]
[Breathless, contemplating life] What?
Her
You hungry? [Toothy grin]
Cut to the two walking down a street, box of chicken wings and chips in one hand, wing in the other.
Her
Best fucking chicken wings! Only thing that could make them better is sex
The Boy
You wanna have sex while eating?
Her
No I wanna have dirty sweaty love sex and then eat these heaven-sent wings
The Boy
Love sex?
Her
Yeah you know- sex with the person you love
The Boy
The