Hey all! I have finished a short screenplay that I have been working on for months. I have handed it off to a director to see if we can get this film off the ground. He seems interested so we shall see. I know that it might not go anywhere, based on time constraints, so I figured I would allow all who wanted to read my work a golden opportunity to do so right now! I apologize if it isn't in its proper format it seems to have issues when I type this way. SO without further ado...I give you...The Color of Hope. (This piece has been copyrighted) :)
EXT. TOP OF A CLIFF, PROVO UT - EVENING
CHRISSY a woman in her early 20’s, beautiful, lonely, a face
that has seen rough times.She walks up to the edge of a
cliff. She has an A-line haircut streaked blond and brown,
heavy eye make up, and dressed in a waitress uniform. She is
crying.
She stares over the cliff face. It is a long way down. She’s
ready to jump. She hesitates, contemplating this choice. She
looks out over the city and towards Utah Lake.
She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and starts to lean over the edge.
INT. CHRISSY’S APARTMENT - MORNING
Small rundown studio apartment. Not much furniture. Just a
bed and a cardboard box posing as a night stand with an
alarm clock and a picture in a frame.
Photographs taken by a camera are posted all over the walls
like a collage. A laundry bag sits in one corner next to a pizza box.
Chrissy is asleep on the bed. She fell asleep last night in
her work clothes reading.
A book on studying for your GED open on her chest. Chrissy
stirs, blinks a few times, and casually glances at the
clock. 8:00am. She grabs the clock wide awake now.
Chrissy tosses the book to the side and gets out of bed and
heads to the bathroom.
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Chrissy looks in the mirror at her hair. She runs a few
fingers through her hair trying to fix it. She brushes her
teeth with her finger, takes one more look at herself in the
mirror with a "that will have to do, I give up" look.
INT. CHRISSY’S APARTMENT - DAY
Chrissy rushes over to the pizza box, opens it, and grabs
for the last piece of pizza. She sticks it in her mouth and
rushes out the door.
EXT. ROAD, PROVO UT - DAY
An old beat up jalopy drives slowly down the road. The day
is gray,and cloudy.
INT. CAR - DAY
Chrissy is messing with the temperature in the car.
She has the piece of pizza in her mouth as she tries to
adjust the temp. The car starts to jerk and make RATTLING
noises.
EXT. SIDE OF THE ROAD - DAY
The beat up old jalopy sputters at a slow pace to the side
of a main road just outside of town, still COUGHING and
SPUTTERING. The car dies. Steam is visible coming from the
hood of her car.
INT. CAR - DAY
Chrissy stares at the cars gauges. Fate is against
her...again.
CHRISSY
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Chrissy tries to start the car. The engine starter fails and
does not turn over. She mumbles under her breath.
CHRISSY (CONT)
Come on, come on!
She smacks the steering wheel with her hand and looks
upward.
CHRISSY (CONT)
Are you ever going to be on my
side?!
She exits the vehicle.
EXT. SIDE OF ROAD - DAY
Chrissy slams the door to her car and proceeds quickly,
walking the rest of the way to her destination.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Chrissy enters a busy cafe with many customers. LAUGHTER and
loud TALKING is heard among the customers waiting for their
food. The cafe is an old fashioned soda fountain with a
modern day look.
Waitresses/waiters are taking orders or bringing out food.
Chrissy keeps her head down hoping no one will notice. She
heads around the counter to write in her time.
SARAH a 30 year old woman, poised, well groomed, serious and
hard looking, finishes with a customer and walks over to Chrissy.
She holds authority in her stance.
SARAH
Does this job mean anything to you?
CHRISSY
Yes.
SARAH
Then what part of being on time
doesn’t register to you?
CHRISSY
My car broke down and I had to wa--
SARAH
You know what, I don’t want to hear
it. Everything that comes out of
your mouth is an excuse.
CHRISSY
(Stuttering)
I’m... I’m trying--
SARAH
Trying takes effort, Chrissy.
Something you know nothing about.
While you’re waiting for handouts
the rest of us are bending over
backwards for what we have. You
don’t belong here.
(PAUSE)
Mike should have left you where he
found you. If it was me, you
wouldn’t be here. And I think he
needs to know that.
Sarah starts to leave to find Mike. Chrissy follows and
grabs her arm to stop her.
CHRISSY
No, no, please, Sarah. I’ll take an
extra shift to cover it.
SARAH
I have a better idea. You forfeit
your tips for the day.
CHRISSY
That’s not fair. I buy groceries
with that money--
SARAH
Next time be on time then.
MIKE
Sarah.
MIKE the store manager is in his mid 50’s comes out of the
kitchen door. He seems friendly, reliant, and he knows his
business inside and out. He looks tired and a bit worn. His
hair is peppered with gray but mostly a dark brown. He is
good looking with a mask of hard work.
MIKE (CONT)
I need to see you in my office...
now.
Chrissy gives Sarah a worried glance. Sarah gives her a
warning look.
SARAH
I’ll be right there.
Mike nods his approval, walks back through the kitchen door.
Chrissy still looks on edge.
SARAH (CONT)
I don’t know what he sees in you...
Sarah takes a wash rag off the counter and hands it to
Chrissy in a rough manner.
SARAH (CONT)
Such a waste.
Sarah gives Chrissy an exasperated stare before she walks
through the kitchen door.
Chrissy looks haggard. She turns and goes to work.
INT. MIKE’S OFFICE - DAY
Mike sits behind his desk staring at a couple of papers. He
looks disconcerted. There is a computer in the right hand
corner of his desk. It looks like he is going through
finances and bills. Paperwork is scattered across the
desktop.
The door CLOSES and Sarah sits, still poised and content
sitting in the hot seat in front of Mike’s desk.Mike rubs
his eyes. He looks at her with a stern gaze.
MIKE
I’m going through the financial
reports for the month...
(Pause)
Mike slides a paper across the table to Sarah. She takes the
paper and examines it.
MIKE (CONT)
There’s a three hundred dollar
discrepancy missing in the
register. Do you know anything
about this?
She stares at the paper then back up at Mike. The wheels in
her head are turning "This is an easy way to get rid of
Chrissy"
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Chrissy hands some change back to a customer and thanks them
for coming in. She picks up the rag again and starts to
clean the counter tops.
Chrissy notices a young, waitress with a pony tail coming
back from one of the booths. She looks upset. She walks over
to a tall, dark haired waiter.
WAITRESS
This is NOT my day! The guy in the
back booth won’t order. I asked him
to move to the bar and he refuses.
Chrissy turns to look at the back booth. A young man sits
alone. He crumples up a napkin and throws it in the booth
seat across from him.
Chrissy stops cleaning and turns back to the two servers.
WAITER
Get Sarah to handle it, she’s in
Mike’s office.
The waitress walks through the kitchen doors. Chrissy turns
back to the young man.
INT. BOOTH - DAY
JEFF a 23 year old artist with sad brown eyes, thin build,
glasses, a messy style of brown hair, and a bit of facial
scruff sits slouched over drawing on a napkin.
There are a few crumpled napkins sitting on the floor and on
the seat across from him. A plate of pie slides across the
table next to his elbow.
He glances at the plate annoyed. He perks up when he sees
what it is. Then looks up at Chrissy.
JEFF
I didn’t order this.
He turns back to his drawing of a bland mountain scenery
with little emotion or effort.
CHRISSY
I thought, maybe you could use a
break.
Chrissy looks at the other napkins crumpled up. Chrissy
picks up one of the crumpled napkins from the floor by her
foot and starts to unfold it.
CHRISSY (CONT)
She’s beautiful.
Chrissy sits down at the table and slides the drawing across
the table.
The picture is of a woman sitting in the booth. She looks
young but her eyes are old, tired. There is great detail in
the drawing. Lots of emotion.
CHRISSY (CONT)
Who is she? She must be someone
special.
Jeff looks over at the picture. He stops when he sees the
picture of the woman. His gaze falls a bit and his jaw
tightens. He’s holding back emotion.
JEFF
She’s no one.
CHRISSY
I think... I think you have a lot
of talent you don’t realize.
Jeff shakes his head like he doesn’t believe her. He turns
away.
CHRISSY (CONT)
And it’s the drawings that come
from the heart, that show your
passion.
Chrissy slides the napkin with the picture of the woman
closer to the other drawing. Jeff tries to fight the urge
not to look down but he loses the battle and looks at the
two drawings. He stares sadly at the woman’s face.
CHRISSY (CONT)
A drawing without passion...
Chrissy slides the napkin of the mountain scenery closer to
him.
CHRISSY (CONT)
Is just a drawing.
Jeff looks up at Chrissy.
JEFF
My mom use to say that.
CHRISSY
Well, you should listen to her.
Chrissy turns and notices Sarah and Mike coming out of the
kitchen entrance with the waitress pointing in their
direction.
Chrissy turns back to Jeff and places a hand on his arm
encouraging and lovingly.
CHRISSY (CONT)
Don’t lose your passion.
Chrissy smiles and gets up and walks toward Mike and Sarah
and the waitress getting ready to walk over. Jeff stares at
her as she walks away.
MIKE
Chrissy, can I see you in my
office? Sarah will cover your
tables.
Chrissy looks nervous and looks over at Sarah. Chrissy
nods.Mike leads the way. As Chrissy passes, Sarah has a bit
of a smirk on her face.
INT. MIKE’S OFFICE - DAY
Mike and Chrissy enter the office. Mike closes the door.
Chrissy sits and Mike walks around his desk and sits in his
chair. He leans forward. He looks at her with a stern face.
Chrissy looks sick.
MIKE (CONT)
Three hundred dollars is missing
from the register. Are you aware of
this?
Chrissy looks ready to pass out.
CHRISSY
(Softly)
No.
MIKE
Are you aware that the consequences
of stealing money from the work
place, is a criminal behavior, and
requires immediate termination?
CHRISSY
I didn’t take the money.
Mike seems to hesitate unsure if what he is about to do is
the right thing.
MIKE
One of the other employees said
they saw you take it... you realize
I have to let you go.
CHRISSY
(Starts to cry)
What, no... I...
(Pause)
You know me, Mike. Have you EVER
seen me take money? No! Because I
DON’T do that! Did you get this
from Sarah? Because she’s lying!
She’s been trying to get rid of me
since the first day you hired me.
Mike please.
MIKE
I took you in. I gave you a job and
I trusted you. I wanted to see you
succeed, but I am very disappointed
with you right now, Chrissy. This
restaurant is my life, and I need
honest and reliable workers.
Chrissy stands.
CHRISSY
(Sobbing)
I am! I work hard. I... I love my
job. I’m the best waitress you’ve
got!
MIKE
You know I can’t let this behavior
slide--
CHRISSY
I didn’t take the money!
MIKE
You’re lucky I’m not filing
charges. My decision is final. You
need to leave.
Chrissy stares at Mike defeated. She’s not sure what just
happened. Everything happened too quickly. She turns and
leaves his office.
Mike looks like a concerned parent who just punished their
daughter.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Chrissy walks in a daze ready to gather her things. She
keeps her gaze down and away from eye contact. Some
employees stare.
SARAH
I told you, you don’t belong here.
Chrissy doesn’t look up. She pushes past Sarah and exits the
cafe from the back entrance.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Jeff is still sitting in the booth. His pie half gone. He
seems engrossed in his drawing on the napkin. He makes some
finishing touches, then sits back to assess his work.
It is a picture of Chrissy.
INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY
Chrissy finishes the last two steps and walks toward a brown
door at the front of the hallway. There is a notice taped to
her door. She rips off the piece of paper to read it. She
has been evicted.
Chrissy is overcome with frustration and emotionally beat
down inside. She crumples the notice and throws it at the
wall adjacent to her.
She quickly opens her door.
INT. CHRISSY’S APARTMENT - DAY
Chrissy rushes through the door and slams it behind her.
She’s in tears. She’s hurt, alone, and angry. She looks at
all the pictures on her wall.
Nothing matters anymore. She begins to tear down all the
pictures she has taken, from the wall. She is on an angry
rampage. She staggers a bit into a corner wall.
She raises her hands to her head ready to pull her hair out
but releases an obnoxious angry yell instead, and pounds her
hands against her apartment wall.
She hesitates, then slides down the surface of the wall with
her back, and collapses in the corner. We see a flicker of
fear behind teary eyes.
Chrissy notices the picture of her parents still intact on
her cardboard box nightstand. She picks it up, lies down on
the floor, and cradles it in her arms.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
The female waitress is clearing dishes off the counter. The
waitress looks like she has been scolded. Sarah is close by
making a sundae when Jeff walks up to the counter.
JEFF
Excuse me.
Sarah looks up.
JEFF (CONT)
I’m looking for the waitress that
helped me earlier?
SARAH
Chrissy was sent home. She doesn’t
work here anymore.
JEFF
Does she have a phone number... or
an address.
SARAH
Sorry, I can’t give that
information. It’s against policy.
Sarah finishes the sundae and leaves to take it to the
customer.Jeff watches as she goes. Disappointment.
He turns back to the other waitress.
She keeps a watchful eye on Sarah as she slides a folded piece of paper across
the counter to Jeff. He unfolds the paper. He smiles and
leaves.
INT. CHRISSY’S APARTMENT - EVENING
Chrissy takes one last look at the picture of her parents
before she sets it on the bed. Hope is gone. She doesn’t
look around as she leaves her apartment.
INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - EVENING
Chrissy exits her apartment but doesn’t close the door.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX - EVENING
She exits the building. She seems to know where she is
going. A red Honda pulls up in front of the apartment
complex. Jeff gets out and walks quickly up to the entrance.
INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - EVENING
Jeff stands at the top of the first flight of stairs looking
at the piece of paper in his hand and then up at the numbers
on the doors. He notices the open door.
Jeff goes to the door cautiously. He notices that the number
matches the number on the paper. He looks around nervous. He
knocks.
JEFF
Chrissy?
No answer. He looks around opens the door wider and walks
inside slowly.
INT. CHRISSY’S APARTMENT - EVENING
Jeff takes a few steps before he notices the mess of ripped
up pictures on the floor. Worry and sympathy displayed on
his face for this woman.
He picks up a picture to examine it. The picture is of a
spot on a familiar mountain side with a beautiful sunset and
the city below. His eye catches a picture in a picture frame
on the bed. He crosses the room and picks it up.
He realizes that both the pictures have something in common.
He looks at the photo then back at the framed picture.
The framed picture has the family in it and the other photo
has the same background but no family.He leaves the two
pictures on the bed and exits the apartment quickly.
The framed picture has the family in it and the other photo
sitting next to it has the same background but no family.
EXT. TOP OF A CLIFF, PROVO UT - EVENING
Chrissy stands at the edge of the cliff. With no hope she
takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and starts to lean
over the edge.
JEFF
Chrissy! Chrissy, stop!
Chrissy turns around alarmed and surprised to see Jeff
advancing towards her.
CHRISSY
No! Go away! I swear I’ll jump--
Jeff stops in place.
JEFF
Alright, okay... then talk to me.
CHRISSY
I don’t want to talk! You don’t
know what I’ve been through, what I
go through every SINGLE day! I hate
it here... I hate it! Nobody wants
me here. I’m... I’m a failure at
everything, and no matter how hard
I work nobody notices. I don’t want
to be alone anymore.
JEFF
Where are your parents?
CHRISSY
They were taken from me, God took
them away from me! I was... I was
only five.
JEFF
What happened?
CHRISSY
It was my birthday... we just
picked up my birthday cake, when a
drunk driver crossed the median. I
should have died too! Why didn’t I
die? I went from one foster home to
another. And no one wanted me. I
JUST want to know what it’s like to
be loved. I just... I just want
them back.
Jeff’s face is filled with compassion and sympathy for
Chrissy. Chrissy turns to face the edge of the cliff she
looks down, tears falling down her cheeks.
CHRISSY (CONT)
(Quiet)
I could jump right now and no one
would know that I was gone. No one
cares.
JEFF
I do.
Chrissy turns to face him.
JEFF (CONT)
I know what its like, to feel that
all hope is lost. To feel alone,
like you’re the only one going
through this pain. The woman in the
picture on the napkin... you were
right, she was someone special. She
was my mom. She died two months
ago... to cancer. She was the one
who inspired me to draw. After she
died I lost my passion and I never
thought I get it back... until I
met you. You remind me of my mom.
That booth was me and my moms spot.
She would order us some apple pie
and we would talk while I drew.
Jeff slowly moves closer to Chrissy.
JEFF (CONT)
I thought I was alone too. I
never...
(Pause)
Jeff holds back emotion.
JEFF (CONT)
...never thought I would find the
will to keep going. Life felt so
empty, but you changed my heart,
helped me see what I was truly
missing. God hears our prayers He
knows us. And He wants us to
succeed and be happy. You’re not
alone, Chrissy. I promise, I can be
there for you.
Chrissy notices his advancing movements and backs up as
close as she can to the edge. Jeff holds up his hands as a
white flag and stops advancing.
CHRISSY
No one can keep that promise.
JEFF
My mom had this saying. She said
with every sunset there is always a
sunrise. It stood for hope. Just
because it’s darkest before the
dawn doesn’t mean the sun won’t
rise.
Jeff holds out his hand gesturing for her to take hold of
it.
JEFF (CONT)
God loves us. We can’t always
explain why we go through what we
go through, but we just have to
believe in hope and have faith that
it will turn out in the end.
Chrissy stares at his hand afraid, conflicted. The color
around them changes to an orange glow. Chrissy notices and
turns to stare at a beautiful sunset. A picture of hope. A
new beginning.
She smiles as she suddenly gets it. Jeff walks up and stands
beside her. Jeff takes her hand. She looks down at his hand
and looks up at him. Both smile.
Chrissy and Jeff both turn and start to head back down the
road hand in hand.
FADE OUT:
The End
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