Hopelessly Found

You just assumed they did.

  CHELSEA

  Of course, I did. You handed them to me. You never gave me a reason to think otherwise.

  David steps back to the corner of the breakfast bar, toward the doorway to the entry hall.

  DAVID

  Well, go ahead and use the camera as long as you like. I will see you when you get back.

  David continues through the entry hall and out the front door.

  Chelsea sits down at the breakfast bar, looking at the back of card in her hand. To her right is her laptop, already on. Chelsea opens the browser and types “courtingchelsea” into the search field, then hits enter. She scans the page, stopping on the sixth search result. Chelsea clicks on the link.

  Camera shot of laptop screen. On the screen is a blog, titled “Courting Chelsea”. The most recent entry of the blog is showing.

  “(deciding to take the chance and pursue you, no more excuses to make)

  I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror

  And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer

  But my breath fogged up the glass

  And so I drew a new face and I laughed I guess what I'll be saying is there ain't no better reason

  To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons

  --Jason Mraz “I’m Yours””

  Chelsea clicks on the link embedded into the artist/song title. A new page opens to YouTube and the video of the song.

  Camera shot changes to Chelsea’s face, a smile appearing while the video plays, the song playing around her. When the video ends, she shuts the lid of the laptop. Chelsea picks up the card again. The smile goes away again.

  CHELSEA

  So both of them are liars.

  Scene 3

  INT. CONFERENCE ROOM DAY

  Andrew and Nina are sitting at a conference table, same side, one seat separating them. Nina is facing forward, her head turned to Andrew.

  NINA

  Do you have any idea why she wouldn’t talk to you?

  Andrew is facing forward, his head down, looking at a pen he is playing with in his hands.

  ANDREW

  No. Rebecca wasn’t much help, either.

  Andrew turns his head to look at Nina.

  ANDREW (CONT'D)

  Did Rebecca say anything to you?

  NINA

  No, not a word. If she knew anything, she wasn’t letting on.

  Mark enters through the open doorway from the hall. Nina and Andrew turn to look at Mark. Mark is standing next to the table on the opposite side facing them.

  MARK

  Hi, guys. Thanks for waiting.

  ANDREW

  I guess we still need to wait for Chelsea. Rebecca said she wanted to be here.

  MARK

  They’re here. I just saw them walk in down the hall.

  Chelsea enters the room, followed by Rebecca. Chelsea glances very briefly toward Andrew, then walks up to Mark, shaking his hand. Rebecca walks around the end of the table toward Nina. Nina gets up and they hug one another. Andrew stands up.

  NINA

  Hey, girl. How’ve you been?

  Rebecca steps back.

  REBECCA

  Very good, thank you.

  Chelsea is standing next to Mark, each facing each other.

  MARK

  Miss Bryant, I’m Mark Stineman. Its very nice to meet you.

  CHELSEA

  Likewise. I’ve heard a lot about you. I really enjoyed your work on Lost in the Crowd.

  MARK

  Really? Thank you very much.

  Rebecca walks around Nina toward Andrew. Andrew turns to Rebecca and they embrace.

  REBECCA

  You, sir, are looking very well. Working out, are we?

  Andrew smiles.

  ANDREW

  Off and on. Finally starting to show.

  Rebecca hugs his shoulder and continues to walk around the other end of the table back to the side Chelsea is on. Andrew turns to Chelsea. Chelsea avoids Andrew’s look and looks at Rebecca. Andrew’s smile weakens.

  MARK

  Shall we get down to business?

  They all seat themselves at the conference table. Nina and Andrew are on one side, Rebecca and Chelsea on the other, with Mark at the head of the table, closest to Nina and Rebecca. Chelsea is turned to face Mark.

  CHELSEA

  Yes, lets. Becky and I have a red eye back to London tonight.

  Rebecca turns to Chelsea, surprised.

  REBECCA

  Since when? We’re not scheduled to leave until this weekend.

  Chelsea turns to Rebecca.

  CHELSEA

  Since I changed our tickets. Once the agreement with Mark is signed, I don’t see a need to stay in LA any longer.

  Rebecca sits looking at Chelsea without speaking. Nina looks at Andrew.

  NINA

  I thought you said you hadn’t told her.

  Andrew remains facing Chelsea.

  ANDREW I haven’t.

  Mark sits briefly with a confused look, looking first at Andrew then to Chelsea. He picks up a booklet of paperwork and hands it to Chelsea. He picks up another and tries to hand it to Andrew. Andrew ignores him. Nina takes the paperwork and sets it down.

  Chelsea signs the paperwork and slides it back on the table to Mark.

  CHELSEA

  You will have the final scene, the Christmas wedding, by the end of the month as we previously agreed.

  Chelsea turns to Andrew, a stoic look on her face.

  CHELSEA (CONT'D) Right?

  Andrew sits silently for a moment before answering, never taking his eyes off Chelsea.

  ANDREW

  Right. By the end of the month.

  Chelsea stands up and walks to the doorway, stopping before exiting and turns around, looking at Mark.

  CHELSEA

  If that is all, I have a few errands to take care of before we catch our flight.

  Mark first looks at Chelsea, and then to Andrew.

  MARK

  That should do it.

  CHELSEA Good.

  Chelsea looks at Rebecca, who is looking at Andrew.

  CHELSEA (CONT'D) Becky, I will meet you back at the hotel. I will forward you the new itinerary to your email.

  Chelsea turns and walks through the doorway and down the hall, continuing out the front door into a courtyard.

  Andrew grabs a pen and signs the paperwork. Andrew looks at Rebecca, then Nina, who are both looking at him. He then jumps up, runs around the table and out the doorway, down the hall, and out the front door. Andrew stops a few feet behind Chelsea, who has her back to him. She stops without turning around.

  ANDREW

  What just happened back there? Did I miss something?

  CHELSEA

  (With a laugh) Like you don’t know?

  Andrew walks around in front of Chelsea, turning to face her.

  ANDREW

  I’m not sure that I do.

  Chelsea, with a stern look on her face, reaches into her purse and pulls out the card from the bouquet. She hands it to Andrew.

  CHELSEA Look familiar?

  Andrew takes the card and looks down at it. Camera shot of front of card.

  “...the heart that has truly loved never forgets, But as truly loves on to the close...

  Thomas Moore "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms"

  Andrew lifts his gaze back to Chelsea.

  Nina and Rebecca walk out of the front door, stopping immediately outside facing Andrew and Chelsea.

  A blush comes over Chelsea’s face as she purses her lips before speaking.

  CHELSEA (CONT'D) You’ve been playing me from the beginning...using the screenplay as a way to get closer to me.

  Chelsea moves one step closer to Andrew.

  CHELSEA (CONT'D)

  Your just like the others. You
get some ego high by tricking an actress to go to bed with you.

  ANDREW

  Hang on a minute. I have’nt been playing you. And I have never tricked you into doing anything.

  CHELSEA

  Oh, really. So it was just an innocent omission when you failed to say you had been stalking me even before the accident.

  ANDREW

  Stalking you! I was just trying to get you to speak to me.

  CHELSEA

  With those lame song quotes? That was really pathetic.

  Rebecca turns to Nina, a confused look on her face. Nina looks back at Rebecca.

  NINA

  He’s an ass; a romantic, lovable ass; but an ass nonetheless.

  Chelsea walks past Andrew to his right. As she does, Andrew grabs her left forearm and spins around. Chelsea spins around to face him.

  CHELSEA Let go of me.

  ANDREW

  Pathetic is probably an appropriate description of ANY man who falls in love with you.

  Chelsea slaps Andrew with her right hand. Andrew stands there for a moment, looking down and away from Chelsea. Camera shot of his hand releasing Chelsea’s left arm.

  Chelsea stares at Andrew’s eyes which are turned away from her. Her breathing is heavier and her eyes intense.

  CHELSEA

  How dare you try to make me the bitch in this farce of yours. I wouldn’t put it past you to have staged the whole accident.

  Chelsea steps back a few feet.

  CHELSEA (CONT'D) Then again, your probably not creative enough to come up with such a clever plan.

  Rebecca walks a few feet toward Andrew and Chelsea.

  REBECCA

  Chelsea! That’s enough. Whatever he did doesn’t deserve this.

  Chelsea turns her look to Rebecca.

  CHELSEA

  Don’t try to defend him.

  REBECCA

  You wouldn’t be standing there if he hadn’t saved your life.

  Chelsea turns back to Andrew.

  CHELSEA

  I don’t owe him anything.

  Chelsea takes another step back from Andrew.

  CHELSEA (CONT'D) He got his wish. He was able to weasel his way into my life.

  Andrew lifts his gaze to Chelsea’s face. A slight smile appears on his face.

  ANDREW

  What a fool I am, thinking that my heart was anything but beneath the standing of yours.

  Andrew walks up to Chelsea. Chelsea moves her right foot back to brace herself, expecting the worst.

  ANDREW (CONT'D) Until I saw you, I never pursued any woman with any conviction of the heart.