Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bill
No
Uncle Bob
-Everybody has a job at the gas station or at the motel.
Bill
- I don't want that.
Uncle Bob
Where eIse you going to get 10 bucks an hour and medical insurance .You got friends watching your
front and your back.
Bill
After high school, I'm going to go to be a writer and go on to write for movies.i will go to school for writing.
Uncle Bob
Do what? Writing?
Bill
Yes
Uncle Bob (sarcastically)
And i wilI buy a mansion in Miami.
Uncle Bob
Bill grow up, be a better man.
Think about it.dreams never come true.
////////////////////////////
Walks in thru doorsees roommate watching tv
Scene 2: with roommate ...discussing about writers and favorite ones
Bill
Bill
You know these Last four years at the theatre have gone by too fast.
Colleague
They aIways do. We had a good run.
Teacher
The constitution originated......not in this country, but where?
Teacher turns and Bill staring out the window. The teacher smiling and shaking his head, walks over and
stands about a foot way from him. Bill is so deep in thought he is oblivious to the teacher's presence.
Bill
I think it started as a..............
Teacher
-Don't even try.
Bill
Signing up the form in the hall way. If you are a student interested in the NYU
Pease sign up by Wednesday, November 8Th.''
Teacher
You are signing up
Teacher
Do you have some friends there?
Bill
-No.
Teacher
-Then there must be some other reason.
Bill
I thought I could go.
Teacher
I'm sorry. This is for students who did well in all classes.
It's not a sightseeing tour.
Bill
Maybe someday I'II go to school there.
Teacher
...you don't have the grades for local college.you are failing...
The secret to happiness in this Iife......is to be grateful for what u have.
...not everyone is meant to go to film school, write for movies.
Bill
Yes
Teacher
NYU is not for you.
Teacher
You cant focus nor dedicate yourself to one single task.
Teacher
You are crazy to think you can be writer.
/////
Near a gas station gas station employee dress or restaurant dress
Scene: at work ....boss angry with Bill
Int- gas station - day
Bill makes his way down a gnarled catwalk through a maze to work.
Boss
You were Iate again today? You were Iate?
Bill
Was writing.
Boss
What? Get serious.
Boss
No special days here.
//////////////////////////////////
Near Tribeca
Scene: with the Kabir on his birthday receiving a gift t shirt and book and DVDs
Ext: work place
Its a hot day. Bill and Kabir are eating lunch outside under the shade.in the background of series of lights.
Ext- day
Another hot day. Billowing steam clouds rising from the giant chimneys mix with heavy air. Bill, sweat
through his grimy t shirt, does pushups next to machinery. Kabir with a grin on his face comes running up
to Bill, carrying a brown paper sack.
Kabir
What is today?
Kabir
August 23 rd. And that is...?
Bill
My birthday.
Kabir
Twenty-two big ones! Bill, it's starting to go by too fast.
Kabir
WeII, I didn't have Time to wrap it, but....
Kabir
-Go ahead, open it.
Bill pulls out a bright green jacket with a gold cloverleaf on the front and on the back with lettering writer.
Bill is knocked out of happiness.
Bill
-You shouldnt have. This is fantastic.
Where did you find this?
Kabir
I saw it online and I said, ''That's gotta be yours.''
Bill
This is awesome.I don't know how.
Bill
I'm ever gonna thank you.
Bill
How's it Iook?
Kabir
It looks great.
Bill
I can't wait to get to be writer or more so a script writer.
Bill
Guess how much money I have saved up? 1000$
Kabir
That's a good start!
Bill
You're the onIy one who ever took me serious.
Kabir
WeII, you know what my grandfather aIways said. Having dreams is what makes Iife toIerabIe.''
///////////////////////////////////////////////
Scene: talking with friends about going to film event
Ext: day
Is walking toward a large elevator carrying a large box and holding a newspaper clipping runs upto his
Kabir.
Bill
What are you doing tomorrow night?
Kabir
IittIe TV.
Bill
Writer Stephen king is speaking at the New York CIub. Wanna go?
Bill
He's the best
At this Time, roger walks in
Roger
Are you gonna kiss his poster every night?
Kabir
-What is your problem?
Roger
-Or maybe he'II Iet you wipe his ass.
Kabir
-Why don't you Ieave him aIone? -Mind your own business.
Kabir
Hey, you wanted to be writer.
Roger
I used to play sports too.
Kabir
You know what the teacher said about you?
Kabir
He said you had an Iot of taIent. But your problem was, you were too afraid of taking risks.
You had no guts. Never committed yourself.
Roger
Go to heII.
Bill
-Come on.-It's okay.
Kabir
He said you were a pussy.You didn't have to get into it
roger walks off. Later on...
Bill
. I can take care of myseIf.
Kabir
Hey, you know what friends are for, right.
Bill
Ever since he started working here, hes been pissed off.
Kabir
Because he's not the same kind of hero here he was in school......that he was earlier.
Uncle Bob
Chasing a stupid dream...causes nothing but you and everyone around you heartache.
Uncle Bob
Attendant
The office is closed.
WeII, you could talk to libararian,he's helpful.///////////////////
Ext - night
Bill steps off the bus and stares in awe at large wooden sign NYU film school. He walks down a lined lane
towards campus.at the entrance gate, he approaches a white haired guard.
Int - - day
Bill is sitting in the Librarian Tim staring forward in a trance. Librarian Tim a tiny vibrant man in his sixties
enters spots Bill, walks over and sits down next to him.
Bill
I want to go to school.
Librarian Tim
I'm not taIking about this year.i still havent written the entrance exam.
Bill
I was thinking about next spring Time.
I'm gonna be a student here.
Bill
I've been a fan of writing for as Iong as I can remember, since I was IittIe.
Bill
As Bill I started--Is it aII right if I sit down?
Bill
I started writing, making movies.
Bill
I wasn't the best or anything but i kept doing it.But anyway...
Bill
...I've been working at a gas station/hotel front desk for about four years.
Bill
And I've been saving up my money.
Bill
And I've been pIanning on coming here. But....
Bill
My friend reaIIy understood what my dream was. And he toId me not to waste any more Time.
Bill
But I don't know. For some reason, I couldnt--See, he was in an accident on Friday.
Bill
You see what I mean?
School advisor
You might want to go and talk to Librarian Tim.
Bill
He said that if I got good enough score at Kaplan--
Toby
I don't know the girIs here.
-Introduce me to few-Bill
-I don't know any girIs here.
Bill
Hey, wait a minute.
Bill
Maybe I do know some girIs.In fact, I know a Iot of girIs.
Bill
-I just gotta find them.
Toby
-That's the spirit.
Toby
As you can see, I'm pretty goddamn desperate.
-And I'm in Iove.
///////////////////////////////////////////////independent filmmaker two light boxes
Scene: meets an independent film maker
For a Part Time job, meets a local film maker
Filmmaker
You gotta keep your eyes open around here, Bill...
Bill
Anything I can do to heIp with the shooting..., you just Iet me know.
Filmmaker
-Why should I heIp you?
Bill
-I want to be your assistant.
Filmmaker
////////////////////////////////with girls///////////////
Ext- various locations
A series of shots showing Bill going up to a number of girls in interesting campus locales and attempting
conversations. He is laughably inept and he is continually rebuffed. Finally, out of desperation, he
approaches a girl sitting by herself in the cafeteria. She turns and smiles as...
Ext scene: asking girls
Bill
-Hi there, what's your name?
-Donna.
Bill
-Great. My name's bill.
Bill
WeII, anyway, this is kind of embarrassing, but......you heard about the dance on Saturday night, right?
laura
Okay. AII right, weII, I was just wondering, do you have any pIans?
Bill
No he doesnt
laura
-That's great. So you're avaiIabIe?
Bill
-toby wouId Iove to go.
Laura
ReaIIy? This is so great.
I wouId Iove to introduce you to my roommate, EIza.
Toby is all excited.
///////////////////////////at job
Scene: at editing workplace -- i took the practice exam yesterday night and i got A
Bill
I got an A on a practice test.
Lab Assistant
-That's great, Bill.
Lab Assistant
So you're in student housing?
Bill
No, I'm Iiving with a friend in New Jersey.
Lab Assistant
Where?
Bill
-I haven't really found a pIace to stay yet.
Lab Assistant
Melissa
Here are your choices.
Bill studies the sheet.
Bill
Do you see that guy over there?
Over by the piIIar.
Bill
CouId you wave at him a IittIe bit
Bill
Just kind of humor him.
Melissa looks as Bill like he is retarded.nevertheless; she shrugs and casually waves over at Toby. Toby
waves back enthusiastically.
Bill
That was perfect. Thank you.
Bill
-What's IFC?
Melissa
-We organize film events?
Bill
Where do I signup?
Bill
Right here.
Melissa
You are a student at NYU, right?
Bill
Yeah, Im, through and through.
Melissa
////////////////////////////////////
At the film club
Melissa
-What's your name again?
Bill
-bill.
Melissa
I need your student I.D.
Bill
Im not a student here
Melissa
What. Cant let you in?
Bill
WiII you please forget I said that?
Bill
-You know what a tremendous fan I am of the writer who is speaking tonight.
Melissa
-It's the ruIes.
///////////////////////////outside film
Scene: trying to get into a film festival but couldnt get in
Bill
I need one ticket for the film festival conference.i have 10 bucks.
Passerby
-Ten bucks? Youre 90 short.
Bill
- can I buy that ticket from you?
Passerby
-Yeah, for 100 bucks.
Bill
-PIease, can I get in? I got 10 .
Attendant
-I couldnt do it. I'd Iose my job.
Bill
A cold winter day. Bill walks down a sidewalk a framed by a webwork of leafless frozen branches.
Bill, pulling a letter out of his mail slot, holding his breaths, opens the letter, as his face falls.
//////////////////////////
Bill grabs the letter from his box. Looks skyward as if in a prayer, takes a deep breath
and rips it open. Close on Bill's face as he absorbs the rejection. He collapses to his knees, his head
dropping to the ground.
///////////////////////
Ext -day
Bill, carrying a small bag, walks up the snow covered sidewalk. He hesitates
Staring up at his house.
Int - day
Bill steps inside, his face flushed.
/father
Scene: with Uncle Bob for New Years etc.
Uncle Bob
Where have you been for so Iong?
Bill
I've been preparing for the entrance exam and working at a studio.
Bill
-I'II go to NYU next year.
Bill
I didn't make it to school this semester.
Bill
But it was so exciting.
Uncle Bob
Jesus, we stiII have to Iisten to this crap?
Scene: with the tutor to see if he can improve Kaplan scores further
First three chapters for next week.
Start thinking about those.
///////////////////////////
Bill
If I don't get in next semester, its over, done.
Librarian Tim
WeII, you did a heII of a job, Bill, chasing down your dream.
Bill
I don't care. If it doesn't produce resuIts, it doesn't mean anything.
Librarian Tim
I think you'II discover that it wiII.
Bill
Maybe I haven't prayed enough.
Librarian Tim
I'm sure that's not the probIem.Praying is something we do in our Time.
The answers come in God's Time.
Bill
Have I done everything I possibly can?
Bill
Can you heIp me?
Librarian Tim
In
Librarian Tim
Prayer is the only answer.
///////////////////////////
Bill
ls there anything in box
please?
Bill snatches the letter from the box. He stares at it, unable to breathe, unable to open it.
Ext twin lakes - day
Bill sits on a bench next to the picturesque oval shaped lake boaters share the crystal clean waters with
swans and ducks.
Bill takes a deep breath, closes his eyes and opens the letters.
Bill
Reading the letter ---You've been accepted for the faII semester....''
''Congratulations, you are....''
He opens his eyes and we see his reaction. He screams exultantly. He jumps up whoops and dives into
the water. Birds scatter.
Int -day
Bill, his hair matted down, his clothes in damp disarray, marches, beaming, past and sweats
covered workers. He reaches the door.
His coworkers surround Bill and congratulate him. Bill spots his Uncle Bob. He holds the acceptance letter
in front of him.
Uncle Bob
AII right, bill. Way to go!
Uncle Bob
I cant believe it?
So, Iisten, you wanna work tiII it's Time to go to school?
Bill
No, I gotta get back
Ext:
Grad advisor
We have students here......so accomplished ...they have fuII scholarships to the best programs in the
country.
At end of the term. Each of u need to write a script.five scripts will be selected and they will be given a
chance to make short film.one short film will be selected for funding for full length movie.
at end of the term. Each of u need to write a script.five scripts will be selected and they will be given a
chance to make short film.one short film will be selected for funding for full length movie. Go ahead and
write that script.
Cut to
Bill submits the script.
Grad advisor
Fine. I fought for you with the other judges.
If you do lighten up one hair......youll be kicked out.
Bill
Does that mean my script is selected?
Advisor
Yes it is selected.Dont let me down.
////////
Bill working on making the short film
////////////
Bills short film isnt selected because another Bill's father (who is a sponsor for the program) wants his
kids movie to be selected.
Bill
There's no way I can thank you for everything you've done.
Toby
You already have.
Toby
You remember Lisa, right?
She's my girl now. Shes coming with me.
Bill
Thanks for everything.
Next scene: At work place.
Bills short film isnt selected again.
Lab assistant
Where are you going?
Bill
-I quit.
Lab assistant
-Wait up.
Wait up. In two years, you haven't missed a class.
And now you just quit?
Bill
-That's what I said.
Lab assistant
-I don't want you to quit.
Bill
WeII, I'm sorry.
Lab assistant
You're sorry?
You're fuII of crap!
Lab assistant
What the heII is it to you?
Lab assistant
Everything you did and everything you said is buIIshit!
Lab assistant
WeII, since when are you
the quitting kind?
Bill
I don't see the point anymore. I didnt make it again.
Lab assistant
There are greater tragedies in the worId.
Bill
I wanted to write and write for movies.
To prove to everyone
Lab assistant
Prove what?
Lab assistant
And you had very little ability when u came here but you worked hard.
You hung in with the best coIIege in the Iand for years!
Bill
In this Iife you don't have to prove nothing to nobody except yourself.
Lab assistant
And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now...
...it ain't gonna never happen.
Now go on back, dont be like me.
Bill
You were a writer too?
Lab assistant
I wrote for a while until someone took credit for my work.
Lab assistant
I got fiIIed up with an Iot of attitude, so I quit.
StiII not a week goes by, I don't regret it.
Lab assistant
And I guarantee a week won't go by, you won't regret waIking out... ...Ietting them get the best of you.
Now, you hear me cIear enough?
//////////////////////////////////////////////
Bills script is selected and movie is madeand selected for screening at a festival
Bill (talking with uncle bob)
I've never asked you for anything in my Life.
Bill
Promise me my parents will be on that plane tomorrow.
Bill
I want you to be there too.