Read Perception or The Oatmeal Cookie & Michelle's Mind Page 9
SANDRA (to Jon)
What’s the matter with you?
Sandra turns around and enters her house. Jon looks shocked and looks at his hands. Matt exits the patio door.
MATT
You royally screwed up.
JON’S BEDROOM – AFTERNOON
Jon wakes up. There are sleeping pills on the counter. Matt is sleeping on the floor. Jon pushes Matt with his foot.
JON
(kicking Matt)
Hey… hey wake up.
Matt turns and looks at Jon.
MATT
I’m awake. What do you want?
JON
Hey did you give me these?
Jon grabs the pills from the counter and shows them to Matt. He nods.
JON
Man, I don’t trust these
things.
MATT
Then why carry it around? I
put them in your glass last
night. You’ll never get
anything finished if you don’t
properly sleep.
Matt gets up and looks at the clock.
MATT
Holy crap! I’m late for work.
JON
Could you drop me off at the
grocery store on your way?
MATT
Sure. Buy chicken wings. I
end at four.
INT. 24-HOUR GROCERY STORE – AFTERNOON
Jon walks in and grabs a basket. He walks past the cashiers, CARMEN and KELLY, and goes into the aisle. Carmen looks at a paper on her counter. CLOSE ON the paper to show a picture of Jon and a line that states, “IF YOU SEE HIM, CALL MANAGEMENT.”
CARMEN
Hey Kelly, did you see the
notice from yesterday?
KELLY
Yeah. This guy must’ve done
something weird, Carmen.
CARMEN
Nothing criminal?
KELLY
Well if it was criminal, it
would say to contact security.
CARMEN
Gotcha.
IN THE VEGETABLE AISLE
Jon looks at the cucumbers. He picks it up.
JON
Hey. Can you hear me?
Jon holds onto the cucumber and walks into the
SNACKS AISLE
Jon grabs a few containers of salsa dip and puts them into the basket.
JON (to cucumber)
Are you alive? Can you hear me?
At the end of the aisle Carmen enters and stops near the chips.
JON
Hey. Sorry Herman isn’t here.
I just wanted to say I can’t be
king. Not without Herman.
CARMEN (to Jon)
Excuse me sir, did you need help
finding something?
Jon looks up. And shakes his head ‘no.’ Carmen’s eyes go wide and she grabs the chips and speedily walks out the way she came.
Jon exits at the other end of the aisle and enters the
MEATS SECTION
Jon grabs a few containers of hot chicken wings and puts them into his basket.
A man in his forties, NEIL, wearing a dress shirt, tie, and nice pants. He has a nametag on.
NEIL
Hello sir, my name is Neil and
I am the manager of this store.
Jon looks at Neil and puts the cucumber down into the meats.
NEIL
For the past week you’ve been
coming here at nights acting
strangely and making a mess at
one point.
Neil grabs the cucumber out from the meats display.
JON
I don’t want to be king anymore.
You don’t have to worry.
NEIL
I don’t follow. Are you done
your shopping for today?
Jon nods. Neil escorts him out to the
CHECKOUT COUNTER
Carmen and Kelly both look at Neil walking alongside Jon. Jon places his groceries at the counter where Kelly is. She scans his items.
KELLY
That’ll be $24.55.
Jon feels his pockets. And pulls out nothing.
JON
Looks like I’ll have to get it
next time.
Jon exits the doors empty handed.
CARMEN (to Kelly)
That guy was a bit weird. He was
talking to a cucumber.
SIDEROAD OF CITY AREA – AFTERNOON
Jon is walking along the sidewalk. Traffic on the street is not heavily busy. A SILVER MUSTANG slows down near Jon. The passenger’s window rolls down to reveal Sandra in the driver’s seat. The car slowly drives along the curb.
SANDRA
Walking home?
Jon nods.
SANDRA
I know you didn’t mean what you
Did, so I’ll give you a ride if
You tell me one thing?
Jon looks over with a glazed look.
SANDRA
How did you feel when you
Pushed her?
Jon looks at Sandra with almost tears to his eyes.
JON
I feel so horrible Sandra, truly.
I feel like I failed as a father?
SANDRA
Is that what you think? Get in.
Jon gets into the car.
INT. SILVER MUSTANG
Jon sits in the passenger’s seat and buckles up. Sandra looks at Jon.
SANDRA
You’re not her father. She knows
that.
JON
I wish I was. I wish I was more
Part of your life back then.
SANDRA
You were Jon, you still are.
Sandra accelerates and drives on the road.
JON
(pause)
Where are we going?
SANDRA
It’s 2:30. Molly ends school
Soon.
JON
She probably hates me.
Jon turns the radio on. Sandra’s cell phone rings. Her car stops at the light. She puts her hand in her purse and pulls out the phone and hits a button.
SANDRA
Hello?
SPLIT SCREEN of
TOP SCREEN: INT. SILVER MUSTANG
Where Sandra is driving with Jon and
BOTTOM SCREEN: INT. WAREHOUSE/FILM SET
Where Doug is in a chair and on his cell phone.
DOUG
Hey sweetstuff, how’ve ya been?
SANDRA
Pretty good, just off to pick up
Molly.
DOUG
I just wanted to take up the offer
Of taking you out to dinner.
Sandra accelerates the car. She hands the phone to Jon.
JON
Hi, Sandra’s busy right now.
DOUG
Jon?
Jon looks shocked.
DOUG
Jon, is that you? Why are you in
the car with Sandra?
Sandra moans.
DOUG
What’s going on?
On the top screen there is construction on the road and there are detour signs. The music on the radio changes to something upbeat and sexy.
JON
Nothing, just detouring.
DOUG
Are you two really on the road
to pick up Molly?
SANDRA
(excitedly)
Yes!
Sandra turns into a side street that has the sign “QUICK ROUTE.”
DOUG
I’m coming over, now.
The phone call ends.
SPLIT SCREEN ENDS.
SANDRA
&
nbsp; What did he have to say?
JON
He said he’s coming over to your
Place.
SANDRA
I’m gonna try and work it with
Him.
JON
You were having troubles?
SANDRA
Yeah. More like doubts, but he
Keeps Molly outta harm so he’s a
Good guy.
SCHOOL PARKING LOT
The car is parked at a school parking lot. Molly enters the backseat.
MOLLY
Oh, it’s you.
JON
I’m sorry Molly. I didn’t mean it.
I feel like a bully. I don’t want
you both to leave me.
SANDRA
We’re not leaving anywhere.
Sandra starts the car. And begins to drive onto the road.
INT. ROAD
Sandra is driving through the city. Jon sits next to her and Molly is in the back.
JON
Yes you are. And eventually
You’ll marry Doug.
MOLLY
You’re getting married?
SANDRA
No, I’m not.
Molly begins to cry.
JON
I love you Sandra, I always have.
Doug’s an ass and he’s making me
miserable. He’ll make you miserable
too.
MOLLY
(crying)
I don’t wanna be miserable.
SANDRA
(yelling)
Be quiet!
Jon
You shouldn’t be with him if you
Had doubts.
SANDRA
It went away after you pushed
Molly over the fence. You need to
get well Jon. I care about you,
but not if you’re going to hurt
her.
JON
(shocked)
I told you I was sorry.
Sandra stops the car.
SANDRA
Get out.
Jon gets out of the car.
INT. JON’S HOUSE – DAY
Matt is organizing the main floor and setting up speakers. Jon walks through the front door.
MATT
Hey. Your sweat reeks. Go shower.
Joes goes upstairs.
MATT
Oh, and I picked up your glasses.
They called while you were gone.
Dude, it’s almost 5PM and you
Bought nothing from the store?
JON (O.S.)
I forgot my wallet.
MATT
Oh, Doug came by. He’s gonna pick
up the movie tomorrow night.
(pause)
He looked pissed by the way.
(pause and then loudly)
Hey. Are you listening to me?
Upstairs, the SHOWER turns on.
INT. JON’S LIVING ROOM – 10PM
Music is playing LOUDLY and PEOPLE crowd the place. Jon is talking to SHAWN, approximately the same age as Jon.
SHAWN
Dude, how’ve you been? Still
Editing movies?
JON
Yeah, you?
SHAWN
After college I worked on
animating for video games. It’s
pretty cool.
JON
Glad you came tonight. You should
Come to my premiere.
Matt cuts in between them with a woman, DEBBIE. She is a hot red head.
MATT
Yeah, he makes some pretty wicked
animations. I heard this one is
gonna kill the rest.
SHAWN
Matt?
(happily)
How are you?
MATT
Good, good. I’d like to introduce
to you, Debbie. This is Jon and
Shawn.
DEBBIE
Rhyming names you boys have there.
Jon shakes her hand.
JON
A pleasure to meet you. Would
you like a drink?
DEBBIE
Sure.
Debbie is chatting with Shawn as Jon goes off to the kitchen. While Jon passes by people, many voices are heard saying “Hey Jon.”
INT. KITCHEN
The clocks indicate a little after 10PM. In the corner there is Teen Boy making out with GOTH GIRL. Jon enters the kitchen and grabs some plastic cups from the table and turns them upright. He turns to look at the couple.
JON
Hey… you’re that boy who was on
my lawn a few days ago who got
dumped.
GOTH GIRL
I thought you were taken?
(pushes Teen Boy away)
This is no fun.
Goth Girl grabs a bottle of wine off the table and puts it to her lips as she walks out.
TEEN BOY
Argh! I’ll never get laid.
JON
Puberty’s tough.
Teen Boy exits the scene. Jon mixes a vodka and sprite.
LOBBY
Matt is upstairs and he’s wearing a grass skirt. He is visible to all those below.
MATT
(yelling)
I’m like to present to you my
greatest friend.
KITCHEN
Jon rushes out. He has a huge smile on his face and enters the …
LOBBY
The music turns down. Matt raises his hands.
MATT
(yelling)
I present… my greatest… the most
amusing… mister Monkey!
The monkey comes out from behind Matt. The crowd cheers.
MATT
This party’s gonna rock!
Jon is surprised. He runs to the stairs and goes to Matt.
JON
What the hell is the monkey doing
here?
MATT
Dude, don’t discriminate. We
accept all.
The monkey looks at Jon.
JON (to monkey)
(waves)
Hi.
The monkey waves back.
MATT
Good. Now lets party.
LIVING ROOM – 1 AM
The clock indicates the time. People are drinking and dancing. The monkey sits on the couch and has glasses on. WOMAN and BABYSITTER sit on either side of the monkey. They giggle. They are very drunk. The monkey makes some sounds. They are very touchy.
BABYSITTER
Your glasses are so hot.
WOMAN
You’re so manly with all that
hair.
BABYSITTER
Very manly.
Matt walks by the couch. He pulls the glasses off the monkey’s face.
MATT
(yells)
Hey Jon, I found your glasses.
Jon walks by and grabs them.
JON’S POV
Jon puts the glasses on and the vision gets sharper.
JON
These are great.
He looks around the room. He spots Molly near the kitchen under a table.
End Jon’s POV.
Jon goes near the kitchen. He pokes his head…
UNDER THE TABLE
Molly sits while holding her legs.
JON
Why are you here?
MOLLY
Do you still like me?
JON
Yeah.
MOLLY
Stop mom from marrying Doug?
Jon raises an eyebrow.
JON
Are they getting married?
&nb
sp; MOLLY
They went out on a date. Mom’s
been seeing him more than you.
JON
You never answered my question.
Why are you here?
Matt pokes his head under the table.
MATT
(excited)
Molly. I met your babysitter.
she’s hot and she’s next to the
monkey. Come meet him.
Matt grabs Molly out from the table.
LIVING ROOM
The monkey and the two women are drinking on the couch. Molly sits on the lap of her babysitter. Molly is in awe while looking at the monkey. Matt is in the background talking to other PARTY GUESTS. Jon is near the window looking outside often. Debbie walks near Jon.
DEBBIE
What’cha lookin at?
JON
Keeping an eye out for that girls
mom.
Jon directs his head to Molly. Debbie puts her hand on Jon’s arm.
DEBBIE
You’re not her babysitter. We
Should move away so you don’t have
to worry.
Jon grabs a beer bottle off a window ledge and looks out the window again.
A cell phone rings and the babysitter puls out a cell phone from her pocket. She leaves off scene.