Finally, the First Draft of my Script!

Willie and Mel

Act 1

INT.—Wallington Heights Apartments; 2^nd floor; Melanie’s Room—Morning

PAN to right from clock (8:22 a.m.)

Camera follows DREAM-MELANIE into the hallway as she rushes from the apartment, pulling the door closed.

Dream-MELANIE darts down the stairwell (two flights) with a piece of toast clenched in her mouth while pulling on the other sleeve of her jacket.

(5 minutes later)

EXT.—Sidewalk Bus Stop—Morning

CUT to frontal shot of DREAM-MELANIE running toward the bus stop.

REVERSE CUT to CITY BUS pulling away from curb

CUT again to shot of MELANIE desperately waving arms as the BUS drives away

INT.—Melanie’s Room—Early Morning

CLOSE UP of Melanie as her eyes pop open to the sound of her alarm clock

(Frantic breathing) MELANIE steadies her breathing as she calmly gets out of bed to turn off alarm. She picks up the clock and pushes the switch down. MELANIE holds the clock up at angle and squints in the semi-darkness to see that it is 5:30 a.m.

MELANIE walks to and opens the door off the side of her bedhead and crosses the threshold into the bathroom, closing the bathroom door behind her.

Act 2

INT. Wallington Heights Apartments; 2^nd floor; Wilhona’s Room—Morning

PUSH IN from MS of Wilhona’s room to a MCU of Wilhona asleep. WILHONA turns over and slides one leg from under the covers, keeping her eyes shut.

INT.—Bathroom

CU of MEL (Melanie) as she finishes washing face. (Hears light knocking on bathroom door) MEL opens the door to WILLIE (Wilhona), who glances toward the toilet.

MEL looks slightly annoyed, clutching a body towel as she leaves the bathroom.

Camera leads into MEL’s room as she enters her room, sets the towel on her bed and heads toward the kitchenette.

CUT to frame of dirty dishes—kitchen sink full of soapy dishwater, a pot handle and partially submerged bowl visible; a pot and a pan, still sporting cooking residue, on two of the stove eyes.

CUT back to MEL who looks exasperated. MEL sighs; lifting her elbows akimbo, and lets them drop to her sides as she walks toward the cabinet. She reaches for a box of cereal.

CUT (TIME LAPSE) to MEL rinsing bowl with gentle stream of water from the tap; MEL sets bowl to the side, away from WILLIE’S kitchenware.

MELANIE returns to her room, flicks the light switch “ON” and sits at her worktable, pulling forward a textbook and a notebook. (MEL notices that WILLIE’s room light is “OFF’)

MEL glances at wall clock; 6:08 a.m.; it is still dark-grey out) MEL hears WILLIE shift restlessly under her covers (OTS and cut-in to WILLIE’S double doors); then an audible sigh issues from WILLIE’s room.

Camera shifts back to MEL (now standing and fetching her flashlight). MEL turns out the main light and clicks on the flashlight; she starts reading the book she pulled up earlier and opens her notebook, mechanical pencil ready. FLASHLIGHT flickers and goes out. MEL wrestles with the FLASHLIGHT for about 12 seconds (CUT-IN to MEL’s hand as she shakes and taps the FLASHLIGHT several times.)

ZOOM OUT to MCU of MEL from behind and then OTS of MEL working. MEL clicks her pencil (CUT IN to PENCIL tip) and a tiny bit of leftover lead falls out. (Directing FLASHLIGHT beam, MEL locates the little box of replacement leads on her table. (CUT-IN to box) Only one lead is left. (CU of MEL as she situates the FLASHLIGHT between her chin and her chest while she prepares her PENCIL) The FLASHLIGHT slips slightly out of position causing MEL to shift her upper body to steady it.

(MCU of MEL and table, back) MEL drops the lead as she fixes her grip on the FLASHLIGHT, and the lead rolls onto the floor. Frustrated, MEL crouches, placing the FLASHLIGHT in her left hand, and gropes around in the beam of light for the lead. After searching for six seconds or so, she decides to use a pen to take notes instead.

(Retrieves PEN) MEL starts to write, shakily as she cannot anchor her left hand, which grasps the FLASHLIGHT, on the table. A slight line issues from the PEN, and then just scratches on the page. MEL shakes the pen and rubs the tip on the paper; the PEN is out of ink. Exasperated, MEL bends over and starts looking for the lead again. This time she finds it. She rises triumphantly, but before she is upright, she bumps her head under the table, knocking over a small stapling machine, which falls off the edge of the table, hitting and knocking over MEL’s drawing board.

MS of MEL seething for a moment and then quietly waiting to see if WILLIE’s rest was disturbed. MEL decides the coast is clear, picks up her things, and resumes her homework.

INT.—Wilhona’s Room—Morning

ES—WILLIE (Wilhona) asleep, stuff scattered about in her room. PUSH IN to CU of WILLIE’s CELL PHONE, which changes from “7:37 a.m.” to “7:38 a.m.” The alarm goes off; WILLIE reaches groggily for her cell phone, swipes it off the nightstand deactivates the alarm and lets the CELL PHONE drop onto the floor.

Act 3

INT.—Melanie’s Room—2 minutes after WILLIE’s alarm goes off

MS of WILLIE’s double doors as MEL enters frame from lower left and approaches WILLIE’s room. MEL eases the right door open and peeks into the room. WILLIE is asleep, lying face-up; her right hand hangs over the side of the bed.

MCU of MEL from the profile; camera follows MEL as she inches into WILLIE’s room, taking care to avoid stepping on the laptop, large paper, shoes and writing and drawing utensils scattered on the floor.

CU from angle of middle-left frame; only MEL’s arms are visible as the camera sees WILLIE from MEL’s point of view. MEL gently shakes WILLIE. WILLIE (face nestled in pillow) responds with a mumble and swipes violently at MEL like an angry cat. MEL recoils (camera jerks out to MS of MEL stepping backward). MEL trips on the computer’s charger cord but she avoids falling, regaining balance after stumbling on a wayward shoe.

Camera FOLLOWS MEL and TRACKS to the table in the kitchenette, from whence MEL grabs an orange. MEL returns to the threshold of WILLIE’s doorway, aims her right arm like a bowler and tosses the ORANGE into WILLIE’s stomach.

(MCU to CU) WILLIE jerks awake, clutching at her stomach where she finds the offending object. MEL hastily grabs her supplies and scurries to the door.

WILLIE angrily gets out of bed, stepping slightly on her CELL PHONE; she opens it: “7:45 a.m.” FADE OUT on WILLIE hopping toward the bathroom (camera following from MCU, back) and shutting the door.

END