Dating 101

By

Sammy Ali & Adrianna Paniak

FADE IN.

INT. MILES BAR, EVENING

THREE SHOT OF THREE BOYS SITTING ON A SOFA IN A DARKLY LIT

BAR. OPPOSITE THEM THERE IS A SECOND SOFA SEPARATED BY TWO

ROUND TABLES. AGAINST THE WALL THERE IS A ROW OF CUSHIONED

STOOLS.

MATTHEW

(sigh)

Look, you wanted to meet someone.

Matthew is sitting nearest to the stairs, relaxed and

utterly confident. He is wearing a formal shirt, black

trousers and black shoes. His hair is casually coiffed up.

His brown eyes concentrated on the space before them.

Harry is sitting in the middle and behaves gravely. He is

awkwardly shuffling around in his place. He is wearing a

casual shirt, jeans and trainers. His hair is neatly intact,

his green eyes contrasting with his tanned skin.

Carl is sitting against the wall acting indifferent but

internally amused by the situation, trying to poke fun at

Harry’s unlucky love life. His outfit consists of jeans, a

sweatshirt with a hood and a blazer. His curly hair comes

above his eyebrows.

MID-SHOT OF HARRY.

HARRY

(forcefully)

I’m not this desperate. I’m sure

there’s other ways to meet girls

than this. What about online

dating, that must be less awkward.

Speed-dating? Maybe not.

MID-SHOT OF CARL.

CARL

(laughing)

Chill out.

(patting him on the back)

This

(waving his hands towards the

sofa)

is just a friendly gathering of

friends and if you like a girl

that’s perfect but if not then

there will be no harm in leaving

empty handed.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

THREE SHOT OF MATTHEW LEANING IN TO HIT CARL HOWEVER BLOCKED

BY HARRY IN THE MIDDLE.

MATTHEW

Anyway, you need a girlfriend ASAP,

or you’re probably going to end up

being alone with half a dozen cats.

CLOSE UP OF HARRY.

HARRY

(hurryingly)

Okay, so how does it go then? What

if I don’t know what to say to

them? What happens if they think

I’m a geek. I’m not exactly Brad

Pitt, am I?!

MID-SHOT OF CARL.

CARL

(sarcastically)

Oh, that won’t happen. Like that

would ever happen to our dear

Harry. Do you think your bros

wouldn’t help you out? That’s why

we’re here.

CLOSE UP OF HARRY.

HARRY

(taking a deep breath and

mumbling)

I could’ve stayed at home and had a

tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

SIDE SHOT REVEALING THAT THERE ARE TWO GIRL OPPOSITE THE

TRIO.

ZARA

(mouthing the words)

Guys we can hear you.

(pointing to SANDRA and then

HARRY and back)

SANDRA SCHWARTZ this is HARRY BELL.

HARRY BELL this is SANDRA SCHWARTZ.

(being helpful)

Go on. You can talk to her. I’m

done here.

ZARA is Matthew’s best friend, they’ve know each other since

primary school with him used to her bossy and controlling

nature. She is wearing an elegant top matched with a blazer,

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

jeans and extremely high black heels. She is wearing a blue

hijab which accentuates her simple yet effective make-up.

SANDRA is as nervous about this date as HARRY, fidgeting

uncontrollably. She wants to make a good impression on him,

wearing her favourite oversized jumper, a black skirt,

tights and Dr Martens. Her blonde hair is braided and her

glasses frame her face smartly.

CLOSE UP OF HARRY.

HARRY

(quietly. Acting shy)

Hi.

MID-SHOT OF STRETCHED OUT MATTHEW.

MATTHEW

OK. Guys. You’re done. I don’t

think you two are suitable enough

to have a meaningful relationship.

(adopting the voice of a

talent show judge)

Thanks SANDRA but it was

unnecessary you coming in. Better

luck next time.

LONG SHOT OF ZARA GETTING UP TO LET ZARA OUT.

ZARA

Excuse me. Who made you the

relationship guru? That was my best

friend you’re talking about! SANDRA

wait!

TRACKING SHOT OF SANDRA PUTTING HER COAT ON AND LEAVING

HURRIEDLY.

MATTHEW’S POV.

MATTHEW

I thought I was your best friend.

CARL’S OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT.

CARL

(in confidence to HARRY)

O oh. Someone is in love with their

best friend.

TWO SHOT OF BOTH MATTHEW AND HARRY.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

HARRY

Why did you do that? I liked that

girl. We could have had a future

together.

MATTHEW’S OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT.

MATTHEW

(moralising)

Exactly, you could have had a

future together. You don’t want a

future. You want a girl to share

this moment with, not a forever

yours. It had the beginning of a

soppy love film and I couldn’t let

you live through all the

heartbreak.

THREE SHOT OF CARL GIVING MATTHEW WEIRD LOOKS.

HARRY

(disappointingly)

So, what now?

O.S. Sound of female voices becomes audible.

PANNING SHOT OF THE WHOLE COMPANY TURNING AROUND TO SEE THE

NEW ARRIVAL.

CARL

And who is that?

CLOSE UP OF MATTHEW.

MATTHEW

It’s time to start the real

competition. Perfect timing

candidates no. 2.

HARRY’S POV OF MEGAN AND MORGAN SITTING DOWN.

MEGAN

(excitedly)

We’re here.

MORGAN

(horrified)

Oh no, no, no, no, no, no.

(continues mumbling)

MEGAN is a tall brunette. She is wearing a leather jacket

and black leggings paired with flats. She prefers heavy

makeup draw attention to her pink lipstick and long

eyelashes.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

MORGAN too is of similar stature and hair colour but she is

more feminine wearing a body hugging dress. She is wearing a

lot of jewellery which she carries around in her spacious

bag. Her makeup is glamorous and striking based around black

eyeliner and rouge.

MID-SHOT OF MATTHEW BECOMING CONFUSED.

MATTHEW

(leaning over to MEGAN)

What’s wrong with her now?

TWO SHOT OF MEGAN AND MORGAN.

MEGAN

(translating what Morgan’s

says)

She’s saying she can’t do it. It’s

too much for her. He looks too much

like her ex-boyfriend Danny and

they just broke up.

MORGAN

(turning to MEGAN)

My mascara is running. Oh, no. I

don’t want cute boys to see me like

this.

EXTREME CLOSE UP OF ZARA RUMMAGING THROUGH HER BAG.

ZARA

(annoyingly)

I’ll get the tissues.

CLOSE UP OF HARRY.

HARRY

I’m never going dating again.

CLOSE UP OF CARL.

CARL

(patting him on the back)

Don’t be discouraged after just one

attempt. Plenty of more fish in the

sea.

TWO SHOT OF MEGAN AND MORGAN SORTING OUT HER MAKEUP.

MORGAN

(addressing MATTHEW)

Are you single as well? You don’t

look like Donald at all. I could

take you home.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 6.

EXTREME CLOSE UP OF MATTHEW’S SEARCHING EYES.

TWO SHOT OF MEGAN AND MORGAN SMILING.

EXTREME CLOSE UP OF MATTHEW’S MOUTH.

MATTHEW

(biting his tongue)

Err.

MID-SHOT OF ZARA SQUEEZE IN NEXT TO MATTHEW.

ZARA

(forcefully)

Aw MATTHEW why don’t you make the

poor girl feel better.

(nudging him to go out MORGAN)

I’m sure she would appreciate your

lame jokes and cheesy lines.

MID-SHOT OF MORGAN PLAYING WITH A LOCK OF HER.

MATTHEW

(feeling pressurised, in a

high pitch voice)

Sorry. I would love to go, but

HARRY is in a state as well.

CLOSE UP OF HARRY REALISING WHAT MATTHEW HAS JUST SAID.

MATTHEW

(whispering to HARRY) Play

along, or I will hunt you down

if you let me go with her.

O.S. Sound of loud footsteps.

LONG SHOT OF A GIRL AT TO THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.

JULIA

(sighing)

Hey, sorry I’m late.

(scanning the room)

Which one of you is Harold?

TWO SHOT OF HARRY AND CARL.

HARRY

(raising his hand up)

It’s HARRY actually.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 7.

CARL

(confidently)

This is who I found for you. Her

name is Julia and I think you’ll

hit it right off. She’s a writer. A

pretty good one in my opinion. And,

also likes horses.

Julia is a writer and never leaves her house without her

notepad and pen ready to write whenever she has ideas. Her

floral bag is down beside, which carries all her writing

equipment. Her small facial features are hidden by her

short, brown hair. She is wearing a vintage flower dress and

heels.

OS.

EVERYONE

(synchronously)

Hi, JULIA.

TILT OF JULIA SITTING IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN MEGAN AND

MORGAN.

JULIA

Wow. So these are all your friends?

You’re a lively bunch, not like me.

I prefer to sit at home at my

typewriter with Rachel my cat and a

cup of tea imagining evenings like

this.

LONG SHOT OF POPPY TAKING OF HER COAT.

POPPY

Hello, did I miss much? Oh, no. I’m

early. Disturbing like I usually

do. I’ll just go back down the

stairs and wait with Adrianna.

POPPY is wearing a short black dress covering her shoulders.

Her long, brunette is delicately curled.

POPPY’S POV.

EVERYONE

(synchronously)

Phoebe!

POPPY’S OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 8.

POPPY

What?

MID-SHOT OF HARRY.

HARRY

(shouting)

You can come out Adrianna. Someone

broke out of character.

LONG SHOT OF SANDRA.

SANDRA

(walking up the stairs)

Good, I was really bored

downstairs, no one to keep me

company. And also why do I always

get rid of first?

MID-SHOT OF MATTHEW.

MATTHEW

(ignoring her)

Guys this was the best role-playing

we did in a long time. I personally

think I was the best.

ZARA’S OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT.

ZARA

That’s a surprise, prima dona.

CLOSE UP OF CARL.

CARL

(standing up)

Guys, can I write the characters

next time though, I had enough of

being cast as homosexual each time?

It’s hard to keep that persona up.

They all laugh.

THE END

BLUR OUT.