Stephen Metcalfe - Writer & Director

Anyone want to produce a movie for about a million dollars?

w h i t e m a n d a n c i n g
BLACK.
The sound of a phone ringing. The phone is answered - fumbled with - and then, in a voice thick with sleep -
STUART
'Lo.
DELL
Stuart.
STUART
Huh.
DELL
It's me.
STUART
Hi!
(a beat)
...who?
DELL
Dell.
STUART
Dell... Dell!
DELL
I wake you?
STUART
Huh? No.
DELL
You weren't asleep?
STUART
No. I was, uh...
DELL
What.
STUART
Feigning sleep.
DELL
Can I come over?
STUART
It's a little late.
DELL
Yeah. So I can come over?
STUART
Is... everything okay?
DELL
No.
STUART
Oh. Well, yeah, come over. I'll make up the couch.
DELL
You're, like, up?
STUART
I am now.
DELL
Cause I don't want to have to, like, lean on your fucking buzzer for three, four hours, wake you up again.
STUART
I'm wide awake.
DELL
Okay. Good. Stuart. I'm leaving Bonnie.
The sound of Dell hanging up. The sound of Stuart dropping the phone.
STUART
(Shit.)
MUSIC AND CREDITS BEGIN AS:
EXT. NEW YORK CITY - WEST 110TH STREET - NIGHT
It's raining. DELROY McCORMACK, 30, comes out his apartment building. He carries a duffel. He looks miserable. He stares up at the rain - no umbrella. A cab, it's light on, comes down the street. Dell makes no move to flag it. The cabs speeds by. Dell sighs deeply, turns and walks.
EXT. BROADWAY - NIGHT
Dell walks, soaked, head down, on the deserted, rain slick sidewalk. Lost in thought. Oblivious to the rain.
FURTHER DOWN B-WAY -
Dell passes the entrance to the subway. He reaches in his pocket. He counts his change. No good. He puts his change back in his pocket and keeps walking.
FURTHER DOWN B-WAY -
A dumptruck is picking up garbage. Dell stares - he looks like he'd like to throw himself in. He continues on.
FURTHER DOWN B-WAY -
An all night coffee shop is brightly lit. Dell, hesitates, stares in. Blank faces stare back. The city is lonely this time of night. Dell continues on.
FURTHER DOWN B-WAY -
In the seventies Dell turns off Broadway and walks East.
AT COLUMBUS -
Dell crosses Columbus, walking towards the park.
ON THE CROSS STREET
Dell comes up the sidewalk, turns, and trudges up the steps towards the door of a brownstone. He enters.
LONG ANGLE ON -
Through the glass of the exterior door, we see Dell reach out and press an apartment button. He is buzzed in. Dell opens the security door and goes inside.
MUSIC AND CREDITS END
CUT TO:
BLACK SCREEN - TITLE: THESE DAYS WE'RE SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE BROWNSTONE - MORNING
Establishing shot. It's stopped raining. The sun is out. Everything is washed clean.
DELL (V.O.)
I am going to die someday.
INT. STUART'S APARTMENT - MORNING
The one bedroom apartment has seen better days.
DELL (O.C.)
I wake at night and feel the shadow pressing down.
STUART KNOWLTEN, 30, is sitting in a chair. He wears an old bathrobe. His "office" is behind him; a small bookcase, a desk, an expensive looking computer and printer.
DELL (O.C.) (CONT'D)
The incomprehensible foreverness of it.
Dell is standing in the middle of the room. He looks pained.
DELL (CONT'D)
We end the day as we begin the day. Alone.
Dell is silent. Stuart is silent. And then:
DELL (CONT'D)
Stuart, look, I don't know about this as an audition piece.
We see now that Dell is holding some pages in his hand.
DELL (CONT'D)
I mean, I appreciate you offering to let me work with your stuff but I kinda have the feeling that when I walk in for an audition, people think I'm a negative guy to begin with. And so this piece, while a worthwhile piece, is perhaps not the right piece for me.
STUART
I was just trying to help.
Stuart rises. Sheets and a pillow are stacked on the living room couch. Dell's duffel bag is on the floor next to it. A bedroom is off the living room.
DELL
I mean, the piece moves me, Stuart, it really moves me, it's just...
STUART
What?
DELL
It moves me to want to slit my fuckin' wrists, that's all.
Stuart goes into the kitchen to pour himself more coffee. Dell picks up his cup and follows.
DELL (CONT'D)
I mean, Stuart, what's the story. I know you, I've read your work.
IN THE KITCHEN - CONT.
DELL
You're a romantic guy, an optimist as it were. You think well of things in this naive but enjoyable sort of way. It's why you're doing so well writing stupid movies.
Dell holds out his cup. Stuart refills it. He turns to the fridge to get a carton of milk.
STUART
My plays seem to be getting away from happy endings.
He pours milk. Tries to. There's none left.
DELL
People love happy endings.
STUART
I seem to be getting away from happy endings.
He puts the empty carton back in the fridge.
STUART (CONT'D)
This is going to be my most successful play.
DELL
Well, good, I hope so.
Dell spoons about half a dozen sugars into his coffee.
STUART
Casting, however, will be of the utmost importance. This play needs actors. You could be one of those actors, Dell. Having worked on this scene, you will have the inside track not to mention my favor.
Dell sips his coffee. He winces. He puts in more sugar.
INT. BATHROOM - MORNING
Stuart is shaving. Dell stands in the doorway watching him.
DELL
So a production of this play, is it definite?
STUART
Semi-definite.
DELL
There's interest?
STUART
There's apparent interest.
DELL
Will this be in or out of town?
STUART
We don't know yet.
DELL
I don't want to miss pilot season.
STUART
It's a job, Dell.
DELL
I have first refusal on several national commercials.
STUART
Dell, we are talking a definite Equity job.
DELL
The play needs work.
STUART
I have faith in you, man, have faith in me.
INT. STUART'S BEDROOM - MORNING
Stuart is dressing. Dell stands in the doorway watching him.
STUART
So are you interested?
DELL
Stuart, look, no offense but your stuff always gets done twice. The first time I do it for no audience for free. The second time I pay thirty bucks so I can sit in the front row and mouth the words with the guy on stage.
STUART
So you're not interested.
DELL
I didn't say that. If the opportunity presents itself and I'm available, I'll consider it.
STUART
That's all I can ask.
Stuart exits. Dells follows:
DELL
I mean, it's not a statement I'm trying to make, it's a living.
INT. APARTMENT BUILDING - MORNING
Stuart and Dell come out of the apartment and head down the stairs.
DELL
I've got to look for a job tomorrow.
STUART
... a real job?
DELL
Tuesday was my last unemployment check. I'm going to miss unemployment. Every week I get to hang around in a slow moving line with all the other actors in New York.
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
Stuart and Dell come out of the building
DELL
You know, being broke is like being impotent, Stuart.
STUART
How so?
DELL
You know it's not entirely your fault but still you don't feel like a man.
Stuart nods. They walk towards Columbus Ave.
EXT. COLUMBUS AVE - NEWSSTAND - DAY
Stuart pays for a paper. He and Dell walk.
STUART
You need to buy anything, the Korean-Jewish deli two blocks up on Amsterdam is the best. Some of them don't speak English though so you have to be careful. I once asked for Muenster, they very cheerfully gave me headcheese.
A pretty girl passes. Stuart checks her out. Dell is oblivious.
STUART (CONT'D)
Stay away from that bodega on the corner. It's a madhouse. Toothless old ladies counting green bananas. Snake eyed guys with tattoos by the register. Dobermans with tattoos by the door. I've been going there for a year they still won't hand me my change.
Dell isn't really paying attention.
INT. STATIONARY STORE - DAY
A woman, BONNIE, is waiting on a customer. She turns at the sound of a bell ringing as the door opens. It's Dell.
BONNIE
Would you excuse me?
She moves towards Dell. She does not look happy to see him.
DELL
Hi, Bon.
BONNIE
How are you?
DELL
I'm okay.
BONNIE
How was your night? The "rest of it".
DELL
It was okay.
BONNIE
Mine was a bitch and I blame you for it.
Dell glances at the other customer, a little nervous, a little embarrassed. The customer continues to browse.
BONNIE (CONT'D)
I want us to see the counsellor.
DELL
Aw, Bonnie... no.
BONNIE
Why not?
DELL
Because I don't want to.
BONNIE
Why?
DELL
I just don't.
BONNIE
I made the appointment.
(then:)
It's only our marriage, Dell.
DELL
I gotta go.
BONNIE
Why.
DELL
I'm busy.
BONNIE
"Busy"?
DELL
I'll call you.
BONNIE
How busy are you, Dell?
DELL
I'll call you.
He exits.
EXT. STATIONERY STORE - DAY
Dell comes out onto the street. Stuart is standing there, waiting. Dell stands a moment.
STUART
You all right?
DELL
Probably not.
They walk.