Perception or The Oatmeal Cookie & Michelle's Mind
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.