Hopelessly Found

seat in here. Nina will be with you in a moment.

  Andrew stops at the doorway.

  ANDREW Thanks.

  Andrew enters the office and sits in the guest chair in front of the desk. A minute passes. Nina walks into the office, around Andrew, and behind the desk. Andrew follows her around the room with his eyes. Nina sits in the chair behind the desk.

  NINA

  Hi, Andrew. How are you?

  ANDREW

  I’m fine, thanks. How are you?

  NINA

  Very well, thank you. So, you asked me how to go about creating a video to launch a crowdfunding project.

  ANDREW

  Yes. I thought, with your experience in webcasting, you would be an excellent person to talk to.

  NINA

  Well, we have a number of services we provide for video production. How much were you budgeting for the video?

  Andrew adjusts himself in his chair and leans forward.

  ANDREW

  That’s the thing. Obviously, since I am trying to obtain funding, my own ability to fund the project is minimal.

  Andrew stands up and walks toward the window which occupies the wall behind Nina’s desk. He turns to face her.

  ANDREW (CONT'D) Did you have a chance to look at the excerpt from a screenplay I sent you?

  Nina turns in her chair to face Andrew.

  NINA

  Yes, I did. It is surprisingly good for a novice.

  ANDREW

  Here is what I am offering.

  Andrew walks back to the desk chair and sits down. Nina does not turn to face him.

  ANDREW (CONT'D)

  I am proposing a split of the crowd funding that I receive for the development of the screenplay. Once the screenplay is picked up by a movie production company, we will include in the agreement a production credit for your company in the movie credits.

  Nina turns in her chair to face Andrew.

  NINA

  What makes you think your screenplay will be successful?

  ANDREW

  Because unknowns are creating new works everyday. In this digital age, anybody can be successful if they can get enough publicity from social media and thus attract enough attention. Besides, I have an ace in the hole when it comes to connections.

  NINA

  Really? And what might that be?

  ANDREW

  Chelsea Bryant has agreed to collaborate with me on the screenplay.

  Nina leans closer to Andrew over the desk.

  NINA

  Chelsea Bryant is working on the screenplay with you?

  Andrew sits back in his chair. Kelly enters the office through the door, carrying her school backpack. Kelly walks up to the desk.

  KELLY

  Why are you talking about Chelsea Bryant? Is she going to be in one of your videos?

  Nina sits back, stands up, and walks around the desk to stand beside Kelly.

  NINA

  No, she is not going to be in one of my videos.

  Nina turns to Andrew.

  NINA (CONT'D)

  Sorry. This is my daughter, Kelly.

  Andrew sits forward in the chair. He reaches out his hand and shakes Kelly’s hand.

  ANDREW

  Hi, Kelly. I’m Andrew. It’s nice to meet you.

  KELLY

  Do you know Chelsea Bryant?

  Nina laughs and walks back around to her desk chair. She stands behind it, facing Andrew with her arms propped on the back.

  NINA

  Chelsea Bryant is Kelly’s favorite actress. She records every episode of her show.

  KELLY

  She’s awesome.

  Andrew sits back in his chair, still facing Kelly.

  ANDREW

  To answer your question, yes, I do know Chelsea.

  NINA

  How do you know Chelsea?

  Andrew turns his head to face Nina, his body still facing Kelly.

  ANDREW

  Well, do you remember the car accident she was involved in several months ago?

  KELLY

  Yeah. I remember. They said she almost drowned.

  Andrew turns his head back to Kelly.

  ANDREW

  That’s right. She almost did. Fortunately, I was able to pull her out before that could happen.

  Nina turns to her computer on the desk next to her. She opens a browser and enters “Chelsea Bryant accident” in the search field.

  KELLY

  Really. Wow, that is so cool. Do you talk to her a lot.

  ANDREW

  A few times a week. We are working on a project together. That is why I am here meeting with your mother.

  Camera shot of laptop screen. Nina opens a link to a news article about the accident. She scans down to find “Andrew Simmons” identified as Chelsea’s rescuer.

  Andrew turns back to Nina.

  ANDREW (CONT'D) So, did you find what you were looking for?

  Nina turns back to face Andrew.

  ANDREW (CONT'D) You’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Besides...

  Andrew turns to Kelly.

  ANDREW (CONT'D) How could you tell your daughter you passed up a chance to work with her idol?

  Kelly turns to Nina.

  KELLY Yeah, mom.

  Nina sits back in her chair, smiling.

  NINA

  Ok. Ok. I’ll help you. I will have a formal agreement drawn up tomorrow. We can start next week.

  Andrew gets up out of his chair and reaches out to Nina, and they shake hands.

  ANDREW Thank you.

  Andrew turns to Kelly.

  ANDREW (CONT'D) And Thank you.

  KELLY

  Will I get to meet Chelsea?

  ANDREW

  I’m sure there will be a time when you two can get together.

  NINA

  I will send you an email with the production schedule.

  Andrew turns back to Nina.

  ANDREW

  Honestly, thanks again. You don’t know how much this means.

  Andrew turns and walks out of the office. Nina turns to Kelly and shakes her head.

  NINA

  What have you gotten me into?

  Scene 7

  INT. CHELSEA’S PARENTS’ HOUSE EVENING

  Mollie walks into kitchen. Chelsea is sitting at the breakfast bar with her laptop open in front of her. Mollie stops opposite Chelsea at the counter.

  MOLLIE

  Where are you at now?

  CHELSEA

  (Without lifting her head) The scene where Elizabeth confronts Kieran after she finds out she was the actual target of his affection.

  MOLLIE

  Wasn’t sure if you were going to keep working on it.

  Chelsea lifts her head up and looks at Mollie.

  CHELSEA Why wouldn’t I?

  Mollie grabs a kettle from the counter next to her and begins to fill it with water in the sink opposite the breakfast bar in front of Chelsea.

  MOLLIE

  Well, its not like I’ve heard you talk about Andrew a lot lately. I just thought you might have moved on from him by now.

  Mollie turns and places the kettle on the stove behind her, her back now to Chelsea.

  MOLLIE (CONT'D) You have to admit...

  Mollie turns around and leans back against the counter next to the stove, now facing Chelsea again.

  MOLLIE (CONT'D) You haven’t been known to invest a lot of time in a relationship.

  CHELSEA

  (Lowering her gaze back to the laptop screen) This is only a BUSINESS relationship. Don’t read anymore into it.

  MOLLIE

  Okay. It just seemed to me there might be more to it.

  Chelsea closes the laptop and looks at Mollie.

  CHELSEA

  We don’t even talk very often. We just email changes back and forth most of the time.

  Chelsea stands up and walks into the kitch
en area. She takes two mugs from the sink’s drying rack and turns to face Mollie, leaning back against the sink.

  CHELSEA (CONT'D) It’s just that you’ve taken a liking to him because of the accident.

  MOLLIE

  Well, I do like him. When he visited us after the accident, I found him to be very nice and very respectful. Besides, he was obviously attracted to you.

  Kyle appears at the kitchen door.

  MOLLIE (CONT'D) It doesn’t hurt that he saved our only daughter’s life, but I also think he might be someone you could get to know better.

  CHELSEA

  It seems to me it would be just a little awkward for me to date someone twice my age and nearly yours.

  KYLE

  Yes, I would probably have some reservations about that. But he and I have had a few good talks, and I’ve taken a bit of a liking to him myself.

  Chelsea turns her look to Kyle.

  CHELSEA

  If you like him so much, maybe you should marry him yourself.

  Chelsea walks to the pantry and grabs a tin of tea off the shelf.

  KYLE

  You know polygamy is not a tradition of the Church of Scotland.

  The kettle is at a boil. Mollie turns around to the stove and takes the kettle off the burner. Chelsea carries the two mugs and the tin of tea and places them on the counter, standing next to Mollie. Mollie turns to Chelsea.

  MOLLIE

  I’m just saying that he would probably be good for you, someone to ground you while your professional success continues to grow.

  CHELSEA

  I don’t need anyone to ground me. I do just fine on my own.

  Chelsea prepares the tea and hands Mollie a full mug. Mollie holds the mug for a moment without speaking. Mollie turns to Kyle. Kyle gives her a smile and returns back through the kitchen door. Mollie turns back to Chelsea, puts her hand on her shoulder before leaving the kitchen herself.

  Chelsea turns around and leans back against the counter. She smiles for a moment before taking a drink out of her mug.

  Scene 8

  INT. NINA’S OFFICE MORNING/ CHELSEA’S KITCHEN AFTERNOON

  Nina is standing at the window, looking outside, using her cell phone. Rebecca is sitting at the breakfast bar in Chelsea’s kitchen, also using her cell phone.

  NINA

  Are you all dressed up and ready for tonight?

  CHELSEA’S KITCHEN

  REBECCA

  All dressed up and a place to go. Not that it is a place I want to go.

  NINA’S OFFICE

  NINA

  Wow, I thought the glamorous life of the red carpet would be thrilling.

  CHELSEA’S KITCHEN

  REBECCA

  It was the first half-dozen times.