LOLA and I by Anthony L. Copyrighted by Anthony L
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
LOLA AND I By Anthony L. Copyrighted by Anthony L Entertainment. FADE IN: EXT. ELLEN’S BEDROOM-MORNING Ten year old girl ELLEN SPENCER is leaning on her desk as she picks up a sharpened yellow pencil from her Bugs Bunny mug. The girl has blonde hair tied into a ponytail and wears thin glasses. Next to her is a neatly placed pile of birthday invitation letters and white envelopes. Ellen picks up one invitation and starts writing with a small smile on her face. ELLEN’S P.O.V.-INVITATION Ellen’s handwriting reads "YOU ARE INVITED TO ELLEN’S 10TH BIRTHDAY" and the invitation also has one of her friends’ name, along with her address and contact details. Ellen stops writing,swipes an envelope off the desk and slips the invitation inside. Holding the envelope like a prized trophy, Ellen quickly puts the envelope and gets a sudden paper cut on her right thumb. ELLEN Ow! Ellen temporarily sucks the pain out of her thumb and continues with her invitation-writing routine. EXT. SCHOOLYARD-LATER During lunchtime, ELLEN is outside her school and at the playground. With a rather anxious smile on her dial, Ellen tries to pass out her invitations to the other kids who rudely ignores her. INT. CHESSIRE MOTORS MANUFACTURING PLANT-DAY Ellen’s father DAN is a young engine assembler for Chessire Motors-A humble All-American Car Company which specializes in making sedans, family vans and golf karts. The company’s motto (as stated on the big red sign behind Dan) is "WORTH SPEEDING". Dan appears to be in his early thirties. Both his face and lean physique is best suited for a white collar office rather than being a glorified mechanic. After connecting valves into a hunk of engine metal, Dan takes his safety goggles off and uses a hankerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead. Exhausted, Dan glances to his plastic black wristwatch and takes a short break. INT. ELLEN’S KITCHEN-AFTERNOON (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 2. After coming back from school, ELLEN is seen speaking to her friend over the phone. Her GRANDMOTHER is washing dishes at the kitchen sink. Ellen appears disappointed as she crosses out her friend’s name off her guest list with a black pen. C.U. GUEST LIST All the kids on Ellen’s guest list are marked out which sadly indicates no one from Ellen’s elementary school is coming to her tenth birthday. INT. KITCHEN-NEXT DAY It’s finally Ellen’s birthday.Ellen’s GRANDMOTHER puts the final icing on her granddaughter’s birthday cake. The cake is rectangle, creamy and its what every kid wants at his or her party. INT. DEPARTMENT STORE-GIRLS’ TOY AISLE Still wearing his engineer gear and in the middle of his lunch time break, DAN is searching for a present to Ellen. He holds two different Barbie dolls and looks a bit confused. A random female shopper looks at him oddly and Dan feels a bit embarrassed. EXT. BACKYARD-SAME TIME There is a banner hanging between two trees which reads "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLEN!" The picnic table is covered with decorations and assortments including plates, party poppers and party hats. Even a pinata can be seen hanging under a tree branch. Despite the party decorations, ELLEN is sitting on a playground swing. Alone and miserable. C.U. KITCHEN WINDOW Both Ellen’s GRANDPARENTS are watching their granddaughter from inside the kitchen and express concerned. EXT. FRONTYARD/DRIVEWAY-NIGHT DAN’S old 1980s brown sedan (Made by Chessire Motors of course) pulls up into the driveway with its headlights shining on the garage door. Ellen’s father steps out of his sedan and enters the front door. He carries a plastic bag with Ellen’s present inside. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 3. INT. DINING ROOM DAN enters the living room and sees his parents sitting down and bored. GRANDPA is reading the local newspaper and GRANDMA is just waiting with her elbow on the table. DAN’S POV The birthday cake is covered with plastic wrap and untouched, while several birthday decorations were also standing still and useless. Dan’s concerns became true. DAN No one came right? GRANDPA *sarcasm* You think. GRANDMA Now George. Stop it. GRANDPA *sighs* Sorry Bonnie. DAN Geez. It’s the fifth year in a row. Now I don’t know why we bother. GRANDMOTHER Don’t say that Daniel. She’s still a kid. Even kids have a hard time making friends. DAN *Sighs* Poor Ellen. Where is she now? GRANDMOTHER Upstairs at her room. Dan is about to leave the kitchen until his father asks him a question. GRANDFATHER What’s in the bag? DAN (PATS ON THE PACKAGE) Well dad. It’s something to redeem everything. Ellen’s father heads upstairs. 4. INT. ELLEN’S BEDROOM-NIGHT ELLEN is sitting against her desk and buries her head into Grade 4 math books. She looks more concentrated on her homework, ignoring what happened to her birthday. SFX. DOOR KNOCK ELLEN Come in. DAN walks into his daughter’s room and tries his best in cheering up his birthday girl. His right hand is hiding something behind his back. Ellen could make her guesses. DAN (SMILES) How’s my little girl doing? Hitting the big 1-0 yet? Ellen is still doing her homework and not looking up to see her father. ELLEN Nice try dad. DAN *Sighs* I know nobody came to your party this afternoon. I am sorry I couldn’t be there. ELLEN (ALMOST EMOTIONLESS AND DENIAL) That’s okay dad. It happened before. It’s no big deal. At least I have time to finish homework. Dan gets closer to Ellen. He knows his daughter is hiding her true feelings. DAN Ellen. Listen to me. I know life has been tough in the last four years since your mother *long pause* left, but I guarantee you I will deliver the best for both of us. ELLEN I know. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 5. DAN Anyway here’s something you would like. Excited, Dan instantly reveals Ellen’s present ware not one but two Barbie dolls. Oddly enough, they weren’t gift wrapped. ELLEN (SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTED) They’re not gift wrapped dad. DAN Huh? ELLEN They’re not really birthday presents if they’re not gift wrapped. Those are not gift wrapped. Dan is speechless and a bit upset. Ellen quickly realizes her mistake. ELLEN *Breathes in* But I guess the thought that counts. Dan comes closer to Ellen, kneels down and puts his hand on her shoulder. DAN Hey. I know your birthdays are less than spectacular. I know what it’s like being alone and not having friends. But no matter what, I will always be here. ELLEN Thanks dad. DAN So everything is cool now? ELLEN Yes. But I want to know something. DAN Sure sweetie. What is it? Ellen browses through her homework sheet and looks back at her father. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 6. ELLEN *Pauses* How do you divide a common denominator and then multiply it with the number of pi? DAN (SMILES) Beats the heck out of me. INT. CHESSIRE MOTORS MANUFACTURING PLANT-NEXT DAY DAN is testing a new engine until his short, pudgy boss SMITH (wears white shirt, tie and orange helmet) has news for his loyal employee. SMITH Spencer! Dan is wearing ear muffs as the thundering sounds of mechanical construction cover Smith’s voice. SMITH (LOUDER) *Taps on Dan Spencer’s shoulder* SPENCER! Dan turns around and sees Smith. He takes his ear muffs off and temporary switches off the engine. DAN Yeah? SMITH Good news. Remember that job you applied for six months ago? DAN You mean, engine assembling supervisor? SMITH Yes and you just got it! DAN (HAPPY) About time! Why so long? SMITH You know how messed up the job application process is. But you my friend, you are moving up. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 7. DAN Great. When do I start? SMITH (NERVOUS) Umm..you might want to ask "Where do I start?" DAN What do you mean? SMITH Well...there’s going to be a new plant at Centreville and most of the staff who’s going to work there are new and overseas.. DAN And they want someone American to work there? SMITH That and someone experienced. Dan pauses as he realise he and Ellen has to move to a new town and start their lives all over again. DAN Sounds more like a transfer than a promotion. SMITH Come on Dan. They need you there. People will kill for this opportunity. Plus the pay is better than what are you doing now. So what do you say? Dan looks at his boss one last time. INT. LIVING ROOM-NIGHT The grandparents have packed their luggage and ready to drive back to their house. ELLEN is sitting on her coach and watching an old black and white mobster movie on a small flatscreen TV. ANGLE ON TV With the remote control on hand, Ellen flicks through channels. She sees a Betty Boop cartoon on one channel, random talk show programs and finally stops channel surfng when shes sees classic actress Rita Hayworth on TV. Somehow watching something from the ’40s intrigue her. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 8. DAN enters the house and sees everyone looking at him. GRANDMA We packed up everything and your father and I are ready to go back home. DAN Funny thing you mentioned about home... Ellen becomes curious. EXT. HIGHWAY-SEVERAL DAYS LATER The Spencers’ brown sedan drives toward a rising sun as DAN and ELLEN makes their way to Centreville.