Writers and Gods

Characters:

Producer

Writer

Waitress

Scene: A beach café in LA

[The following is an exchange between a writer and a producer. The producer and writer sit at an outside table near the beach in a business meeting. The producer looks about thirty while the writer looks about twenty.]

Producer: It’s so nice to see you again, Ms. Johnson.

Writer: Have you read my script yet?

Producer: Why yes I have.

Writer: So, what do you think?

Producer: It’s good, but I have a few questions

[The writer looks at the producer through her dark black sunglasses]

Writer: Oh? What do you mean?

Producer: Well, for starters, what is the whole plot of the story? I don’t get it.

Writer: It’s simple really; it’s all about internal suffering of the human spirit.

Producer: But why a rich, popular, and beautiful model?

Writer: Because, beautiful people have problems to, why not show it?

Producer: But why?

Writer: The public has been blinded by this illusion that you have to be beautiful to live the so-called “perfect life.” I’m here to break that stereotype.

Producer: I see.

[A waitress comes by their table. She looks about eighteen or nineteen years old. The writer and producer look up at her when she approaches their table.]

Waitress: Good afternoon, welcome to Ocean Side Blue. My name is Holly and I’ll be your waitress. What would you like to drink?

Writer: I’ll have a Pina Colada today, miss.

Producer: And I’ll have a Diet Coke, thank you.

[The waitress writes down their orders on her pad.]

Waitress: Okay! Coming right up!

[The waitress leaves. The producer turns his attention back to the writer.]

Producer: I noticed that everything is pretty dark in your script.

Writer: Yes.

Producer: But why not something light and happy?

Writer: Life isn’t light and happy all of the time. We all have are dark times.

Producer: But your protagonist has one train wreck after another.

Writer: I’m showing how the hard life and the negatives factors can break someone.

Producer: Don’t tell me this is an after-school special!

Writer: [Laughs] Oh don’t worry! I avoided that at all costs.

Producer: Whew! Thank God!

[The waitress returns with their drinks]

Waitress: Here you are!

[Both writer and producer thank her and the waitress gives them menus and leaves. The producer looks at the writer.]

Producer: There is a lot of drug use and sex in your script.

Writer: Yes. Is that a problem?

Producer: No, but…

[The writer takes a sip of her Pina Colada and looks at him intently]

Writer: But?

Producer: Aren’t you worried about being attacked?

Writer: No!

Producer: Why?

Writer: A little controversy never hurts anyone. But be careful not to overkill it.

Producer: Why?

Writer: Then, you look like you’re desperate for attention.

Producer: Okay. But the transitions between past and present are confusing.

Writer: Not if you don’t try to analyze the movie to death.

Producer: What is the point of the nightmares?

[The writer lightly plays with her short black hair as the questions goes on before taking another slip of her Pina Colada]

Writer: To add to the point of losing one’s mind.

Producer: I did like the flowers dream.

Writer: [Smiles] Thank you.

Producer: It does seem a little raw.

Writer: In what places?

Producer: Just with your protagonist’s friends talking. You just went on the blunt end there.

Writer: Let me see.

[The producer hands her the script and the writer reads where he marked. She looks up at him again.]

Writer: I was telling the truth through their eyes

Producer: Can you clean it up some?

[The writer raises an eyebrow at him]

Writer: How so?

Producer: Just try to piece it together so that they don’t sound like they are just rambling on.

Writer: Hm, I’ll see what I can do.

[The waitress returns. The producer and writer look up at her]

Waitress: Are you ready to order?

Writer: Ah, yes. I’ll have your specialty shrimp pasta in the Alfredo sauce.

Producer: And I’ll have the chicken club sandwich.

[The waitress writes their orders down on her notepad]

Waitress: Great! I’ll be right back!

[The waitress leaves them again. The writer looks up at the producer]

Writer: Anything else?

Producer: Yes.

Writer: What is it?

Producer: The ending.

Writer: What about it?

[The producer pauses for a moment before speaking]

Producer: It’s not finished. Do you intend to finish it?

Writer: No

[The producer is puzzled]

Producer: Why not?

[The writer stretches her neck from side to side]

Writer: Because, I wanted the audience to interpret for themselves what happens to the protagonist.

Producer: Your script seems to be like other movies in this genre. Aren’t worried about being accused of being clichéd?

Writer: No idea is really original. It’s depends on how you present it. If you present it in a way that everyone’s seen before, they aren’t going to buy it. But if you present your idea in a new and barely used way, people will say, “Hey, I want to check that out!”

Producer: Aren’t you worried about what the critics well think? Some fans rely on them to know what to watch and what not to watch

Writer: I don’t care what the critics think! I care are what the fans are going to think. If they rely on the critics, then they need to learn how to think for themselves

[There is a moment of silence for the final decision. The producer smiles at the writer broadly]

Producer: Well then, consider yourself a film deal!

Writer: Thank you, sir!

[The writer and producer shake hands. The waitress returns with their lunches and they eat. All while the waves crash against the beach shore]

End