Read Perception or The Oatmeal Cookie & Michelle's Mind Page 4


  PAPARAZZI 1

  (to Jon)

  And what’s your role in this film?

  JON

  I’m the editor.

  PAPARAZZI 1

  (yells out to other paparazzi)

  Where is an actor?

  PAPARAZZI 2

  (to Paparazzi 1)

  Don’t you know who that is? That’s

  Sandra Hazelmere! She IS the actor.

  (knocks over Paparazzi 1)

  What’s a hot model like you starring

  in an indie movie screening like this?

  Paparazzi 1 looks confused and is no longer part of the conversation with Jon.

  PAPARAZZI 1

  (says to a standby paparazzi)

  Who the hell is she?

  PAPARAZZI 3 walks near.

  PAPARAZZI 3

  (to paparazzi 1)

  Don’t you know? She’s the hottest model

  right now. Look up there.

  Paparazzi 3 points to a billboard and on it is Sandra.

  SANDRA

  (smiles to Paparazzi 2)

  I’m here with my date, Jon.

  PAPARAZZI 2

  Hi Jon, I take it you did something

  for this film?

  JON

  Yeah, I am the entire visual

  effects team.

  PAPARAZZI 2

  That’s a lot of work for one guy.

  JON

  I manage.

  PAPARAZZI 2

  (to Sandra)

  How long have you two been going out?

  SANDRA

  Oh no! We’re just friends.

  Jon’s smile decreases a bit.

  PAPARAZZI 2

  Oh really! Well Sandra, it was a

  pleasure to meet you.

  (kisses her hand)

  The paparazzi crowd LEAPS towards them taking photos of the kiss.

  PAPARAZZI 3

  (shoves Paparazzi 1 and yells)

  Sandra!

  PAPARAZZI 2

  (to Paparazzi 3)

  Watch it.

  (to Sandra)

  Check for the article in Popular

  Films in next month’s issue.

  JON

  Thanks! Will do!

  PAPARAZZI 2

  For you my lady.

  (hands Sandra a business card)

  A business card is shown of Paparazzi 2 with a cheesy smile and his name “Frank Paparazzo.” Sandra and Jon enter the theatre.

  INT. THEATRE - NIGHT

  Jon and Sandra greet the crew. Jon SHAKES HANDS with DOUG, age 32, built and very in your face personality.

  DOUG

  Hey Jon! I can’t wait to see and

  hear the reactions from the crowd

  this time.

  JON

  I know. Doug, I still can’t believe

  this is my second feature!

  DOUG

  Believe it kid.

  JON

  Kid? You’re only nine years older

  than me.

  DOUG

  Yah. Hey sweetstuff. You excited?

  SANDRA

  Very. My first acting job ever.

  Can’t wait to see the reaction.

  DOUG

  (shakes Sandra’s hand)

  As the director of this film. I

  made a wise choice to hire a model

  for the film.

  SANDRA

  You think it matters?

  DOUG

  Sure does. So how long have you two

  been dating?

  JON

  No, we’re just friends.

  DOUG

  Really…

  SANDRA

  (blushes)

  We’re just friends.

  DOUG

  Sweetstuff. I wouldn’t only want

  you to be my friend. Anyways,

  let’s get some popcorn and watch

  our movie.

  Jon glares at Doug.

  CUT TO:

  Text shows “Eight Years Later.”

  INT. JON’S OFFICE – NOON

  Jon, age 31, leans back into his chair. He looks scruffy, his eyes are red, and there are bags under his eyes. On his computer displays actors in front of a green screen and he adds in an animated background.

  JON’S POV: He sees the screen go a bit fuzzy.

  End JON’S POV.

  He rubs his eyes. The phone RINGS. Jon’s arm reaches and picks up the phone after the first ring.

  JON

  Yeah?

 

  DOUG (V.O.)

  Hey Jon! Shall we work on the

  movie today? Hopefully this one will

  be the big one.

  JON

  Yeah, it’s been a long time since

  the last success. We need to get

  back on. Come over later, I’ll show

  you some CG stills I completed.

  Jon gets up and moves to the window and looks out to a window in Sandra’s house.

  DOUG (V.O.)

  Alright.

  Through the window, Doug waves from the house next door looking at Jon. Jon waves back confusedly. He hangs up the phone. Sandra is in view and she hugs Doug. Jon looks confused. He then picks up the phone and dials.

  INT. SPLIT SCREEN BETWEEN JON AND MATT.

  On the left side of the screen is Jon, and on the right is MATT. Matt is playing with a rubix cube. His phone RINGS. He picks it up.

  MATT

  Hey Jon!

  JON

  Can you drive me to the doctor?

  MATT

  Eyes getting worse?

  JON

  Yeah, I think I saw my boss with

  Sandra.

  MATT

  Why do you care?

  JON

  Matt, I think she’s dating Doug.

  A MONKEY SCREAMS in the background of Matt’s side.

  MATT

  (screams into phone)

  What?

  (yells to monkey)

  Quiet monkey.

  JON

  (louder)

  I think she’s dating Doug.

 

  MATT

  Your director?

  JON

  Yeah, that Doug. When did this

  happen?

  MATT

  Well, you did just move to that

  house 2 years ago. He probably

  got to know your crush better

  than you.

  JON

  Whatever. Just come.

  SPLIT SCREEN ENDS.

  INT. MATT’S HOUSE

  A banana is THROWN at Matt’s head.

  MATT

  (angrily)

  Monkey.

  INT. JON’S HOUSE

  Jon hangs up the phone rubs his eyes.

  CUT TO:

  EXT. ROAD – DAY

  A TOYOTA drives along the road. Matt drives, Jon rides shot gun.

  INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE

  Jon and Matt enter the office. A CLIENT exits the inner office with DOCTOR OETKER. The client has hand braces on.

  CLIENT

  (excitedly)

  Thanks Doctor. Who knew that my

  Hands were broken.

  DOCTOR OETKER

  I did.

  CLIENT

  (excitedly)

  That’s why you’re the doctor.

  The client tries to open door handle, and fails. Jon opens the door for Client. Doctor Oetker looks at Jon.

  DOCTOR OETKER

  (happily)

  Hello! Come in. Come in. I’m

  Doctor Oetker.

  Matt sits down and grabs a magazine.

  INT. PRIVATE OFFICE

  Jon enters the office with the doctor.
<
br />   DOCTOR OETKER

  Alright Jon, I want you to read the

  letters up on that wall there.

  JON

  Y… O… U… S… U… C… K…

 

  DOCTOR OETKER

  Hmm, nothing wrong there. When was

  the last time you slept a full eight

  hours?

  JON

  Awhile ago, probably three and a

  half weeks ago.

  DOCTOR OETKER

  (hands Jon a smaller eye test)

  Read these letters.

  JON

  F… Y… I… O… ummm… the light in here

  is making my dizzy.

  DOCTOR OETKER

  Why aren’t you sleeping enough?

  Did something happen? Is it work

  related? It’s okay you don’t have

  to finish reading.

  JON

  Well this movie I’m editing the

  visual for is different from what

  I’m used to. I’ve been trying to

  get something awesome and

  amazing. It’s not easy.

  DOCTOR OETKER

  Seems like you’re stressed.

 

  Dr. Oetker writes up a prescription.

  DOCTOR OETKER

  I also think you should go see an

  Optometrist. Would tomorrow be

  alright with you?

  JON

  Optometrist? Am I going blind?

  DOCTOR OETKER

  No, you’re not. But then again

  I can’t say for sure because I

  am just a family doctor.

  JON (V.O.)

  Oh my God. I am going blind.

  This guy knows nothing.

  DOCTOR OETKER

  Tomorrow you meet Dr. Jimmy.

  Doctor Oetker hands Jon a prescription for stress pills.

  CUT TO:

  EXT. JON’S BACKYARD – DAY

  In the distance Sandra’s yard is seen and MOLLY, age 7, exits the patio door from Sandra’s. She climbs over the fence and walks across Jon’s yard.

  INT. JON’S FAMILY ROOM – DAY

  Jon lays on his back on the couch and stares up at the ceiling. Molly enters through the patio door. She looks at Jon and then lies on the ground on her back with her head near Jon’s head.

 

  MOLLY

  What are we looking at?

  JON

  The specks on the ceiling.

  MOLLY

  Why?

  JON

  To see them, Molly. What if I never see

  them again.

  MOLLY

  Have you counted them?

  JON

  I tried, then I started thinking

  of other things.

  MOLLY

  I think the specks are confetti

  stuck under the paint.

  JON

  Probably.

  The two lay there quietly for a moment.

 

  JON

  How’s your mom doing?

  MOLLY

  She made gross cookies today. They

  have raisins in them. She wants to

  make the yummy food healthy.

  JON

  I hate raisins too.

 

  MOLLY

  They’re evil.

  JON

  What kind do you want her to make?

  MOLLY

  (excitedly)

  Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

  Molly gets up and pulls out a paper from her backpack and puts it on Jon’s stomach. Jon looks at the drawing to see a dragon beautifully sketched.

  MOLLY

  I drew the dragon from your movie.

  JON

  Wow Molly! This is brilliant. Way

  better than your last one. You should

  go to art school.

  MOLLY

  Really! You think so?

  Molly hugs Jon.

  JON

  Of course I think so. Look at this.

  MOLLY

  I also drew a picture of my parents.

  Molly hands Jon a picture of Sandra and Paparazzi 2. Jon looks at the picture.

  JON’S FLASHBACK:

  EXT. WEDDING

  The sign of the wedding states “PAPARAZZO & SANDRA’S WEDDING.” In the aisle seats are Jon and Doug.

  DOUG (to Jon)

  (quietly)

  You missed your chance kid.

  JON

  (saddened)

  We’re just friends.

  DOUG

  (disbelief)

  Uh… huh.

  CUT TO:

  INT. RECEPTION

  Glasses clang together. Paparazzi 2 stands up.

  PAPARAZZI 2

  I am so happy to have met my

  beautiful wife Sandra. It wouldn’t

  have been possible if Jon didn’t

  bring her to the movie screening

  last year. Thank you Jon!

  The crowd cheers.

  JON

  (angry mutter)

  Paparazzo!

  DOUG

  (pats Jon’s back)

  It’s okay, you’re just friends.

  CUT TO:

  EXT. CEMETARY - DAY

  The burial for Paparazzi 2 has completed.

  PAPARAZZI 1

  I can’t believe the extent he’d go

  for an interview.

  PAPARAZZI 1’S FLASHBACK:

  EXT. PARADE – DAY

  Paparazzi 2 is chasing after a celebrity, ROZ, on an elephant. He runs next to the elephant.

  PAPARAZZI 2

  Roz! Roz! I just want to ask a few

  questions!

  ROZ

  Go away!

  PAPARAZZI 2

  Just a few minutes!

  ROZ

  Just leave me alone!

  PAPARAZZI 2

  But you’re famous Roz!

  ROZ

  I’m just a producer. No one knows

  who I am!

  PAPARAZZI 2

  I know you Roz!

  Paparazzi 2 is SQUISHED by the elephant’s foot. Once the elephant lifts it’s foot again a flat Paparazzi 2 is visible.

  PAPARAZZI 2

  (quietly and in pain)

  Rozzzzzzz-----

  END PAPARAZZI 1’S FLASHBACK.

  EXT. CEMETARY - DAY

  Sandra is crying and Molly, age 2, is holding Sandra’s hand. The tombstone has a picture of Paparazzi 2 with a fake smile.

  END FLASH BACK.

  INT. JON’S FAMILY ROOM

  Jon holds the sketched portrait.

  JON

  This looks perfect Molly. Have you

  shown your mom?

  MOLLY

  Not yet. How’s your editing going?

  JON

  It’s in progress. I’m taking my

  time.

  Jon pauses and hands the picture back to Molly.

  JON

  Does Doug hang around your house

  a lot?

  MOLLY

  Obviously, he’s my mom’s boyfriend.

  JON

  Oh.

  MOLLY

  OK, well I am gonna give this to

  my mom. Bye.

  Molly hugs Jon. She exits through the patio door.

  EXT. JON’S BACKYARD – DAY

  Molly SPRINTS and SCREAMS while a dog chases her. She jumps over the fence.

  INT. JON’S FAMILYROOM/KITCHEN – DAY

  Jon gets up and goes to the kitchen. He makes some food. He looks at a photo of him and Sandra on his fridge. The picture is shown. Then a front view of Jon. Then a close up of the picture is shown. Then a closer view of Jo
n. Then a closer picture than before. Then a really close up of Jon as the camera moves closer to his face and he smacks into it.

 

  JON

  Ouch!

  Jon rubs his head. He looks at the photo of Jon and Sandra again.

  JON

  I guess I did miss my chance.

  He opens the fridge and makes a sandwich.

  CUT TO:

  EXT. JON’S FRONT PORCH – EVENING/SUNSET

  Jon sits at his porch and looks over at Sandra’s yard.

  SANDRA’S YARD – JON’S POV

  Molly skips with a jump rope. Sandra hugs Doug. They kiss. They then stand next to each other and Molly stands in front of them and they all smile. A Polaroid of the three of them then flies out from view with the depth perception off and lands into Jon’s hand.

  JON’S FRONT PORCH

  Jon looks confused. Jon keeps looking at Sandra.

  DOUG (O.S.)

  (faintly)

  Jon… Jon.

  (louder)

  JON!

  Jon then looks up and sees Doug standing in front of him. Jon puts his hand over his eyes to block the sun.

  JON

  Yeah? Why are you here?

  DOUG

  The C.G. stills, remember?

  JON

  Oh yeah.

  Jon then enters the house and comes out quickly. He hands the C.G. still pictures of dragons to Doug.

  DOUG

  Thanks. This looks impressive.

  And here I thought you only did

  landscapes.

  Doug then goes over to Sandra’s yard, and gives her a kiss goodbye. He picks up Molly, and she giggles. Doug gets into his car and drives slowly past Jon’s house. Jon watches as Doug drives away. The driver’s window scrolls down.