Script Excerpt (#1)

FADE IN:

14. INT. LYNDEN’S APT. BEDROOM. MORNING.

LYNDEN sits on the edge of his bed, smoking a cigarette. He is wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. The sound of young children playing outside in the alley is heard. LYNDEN seems restless and nervous. His leg is bouncing up and down. He rises from the bed and heads over to the window; he pulls back the light curtain and pokes his head out. He blows some smoke out the window and drops his cigarette down towards the alley. He watches the cigarette fall to the ground. He exits the frame.

15. INT. LYNDEN’S APT. LIVING ROOM. MORNING.

LYNDEN sits on his couch, in front of the television. He is watching an old cartoon.

DISSOLVE TO:

16. INT. LYNDEN’S APT. BATHROOM. DAY.

LYNDEN is standing in front of his bathroom mirror. He is now fully dressed and ready to go out into the cold (coat and stocking cap). He removes his hat for a second and turns on the faucet. He washes his face with cold water briefly and dries it off. He puts the hat back on and exits the bathroom, turning off the light.

17. INT. LYNDEN’S APT. BUILDING. LOBBY.

LYNDEN approaches the mailboxes along the left wall of the lobby. He reaches into his coat pocket and removes his keys. He opens his mailbox.

CU of the MAILBOX: “APT. 707-BLACK, LYNDEN”.

His mailbox is empty. He shuts it and lets out a big sigh. He hesitates for a moment and yells out “CUT!”. A man named JASON RYAN, the director, steps into frame from behind the camera. CUT TO another camera angle reveals a camera crew and lights facing SAM, the actor playing LYNDEN.

JASON:

CUT!

(walks up closer to Sam)

What is it, Sam?

SAM:

I’m just…I’m having trouble understanding

what this scene is about.

JASON:

What?

SAM:

I mean, what’s my motivation?

JASON:

You're checking your mail

(matter of factly)

SAM:

But am I sad when I see no mail?

Should I sigh like that? Or is

it just business as usual.

JASON:

Don’t sigh. It’s casual.

(lowers voice for privacy from crew)

It’s just to show your daily routine.

It will come back later on in the film.

You’ll see.

Let’s just push on through.

SAM:

Ok. Let’s go.

JASON:

(to crew)

Ok. Places everybody let’s get this and move to the street.

CUT TO:

18. EXT. THE STREET. LATE DAY.

LYNDEN walks down the street.