THE LADDER

Written by
Ashton Trumble

EXT. FLORENCE, ITALY - VIALE MILTON - NIGHT

An unusually quiet night in Florence, save for the light
autumn rain. A lone motorbike zooms down the empty street.
INT. UNIVERSITY VILLA - ROOM 12 - BEDROOM - NIGHT
A quaint little room for two, complete with a pair of desks,
a balcony, and bunk-beds connected by a ladder.
JESS, early twenties, sits at her desk, hunched over a slew
of papers. She wears noise-cancelling headphones and is
highlighting every other line in Dantes Inferno.
ALLY, early twenties, lies on the floor, wearing only her
underwear. She attempts some embarrassing gluteal exercises
while SINGING along to Justin Bieber.
ALLY
(singing)
If I was your boyfriend, Id never
let you go. Id keep you on my arm
girl, youd never be alone.
(painful falsetto)
I could be your gentleman! Anything
you want!
JESSS POV: Maroon 5 DROWNS OUT the Bieber tunes. Jess
brackets the line: It is a hard and bitter walk, / Climbing
and coming down anothers stairs.
ALLY (O.S.) (CONTD)
(muffled)
Jess!
Ally rips Jesss left headphone off her ear. Maroon 5
disappears and Bieber TAKES OVER.
Ally SHOUTS in Jesss ear.
Hi!
Hey there.

ALLY (CONTD)
JESS

ALLY
Can I talk to you?
Jess looks longingly at Dante.

2.
ALLY (CONTD)
Thirty seconds. For real. You can
time me.
Ally turns the MUSIC DOWN. She positions her desk chair
backwards and sits with her stomach facing the back, like a
television police investigator.
Jess reaches for her highlighter. Ally grabs her arm.
ALLY (CONTD)
Come out with us tonight.
Jess opens her mouth to speak but Ally interrupts.
ALLY (CONTD)
Just gimme a sec before you say no.
Its Massimos retirement party. I
know you dont really know him, but
I do, so I should be there.
Ally slaps Jesss thigh with every other word she says.
ALLY (CONTD)
I really dont want to go alone.
Remember what happened last time? I
almost died, Jess. Do you want me
to die?
Jess stares at her lap, avoiding eye contact. She plays with
her fingers.
JESS
Isnt Massimo a bartender? How is
he retiring? Hes like thirty.
ALLY
I think youre missing the point.
JESS
We have a World Lit test first
thing tomorrow. If you stayed home,
we could wake up early tomorrow and
review.
Ally takes an aggravated breath and straightens herself in
her chair.
ALLY
Jess, I love you. Youre my best
friend.
JESS
Youre my best friend, too.

3.
Ally holds up a finger.
ALLY
But sometimes you do things I dont
get. Like, you study abroad in
Italy only to spend all your time
inside studying.
Jess rolls her eyes. She stands and moves toward the bunk-bed
ladder.
ALLY (CONTD)
Dude, you cannot seriously be going
to bed right now.
Jess grips the bottom of the ladder.
JESS
I seriously am. I wish you would,
too. I worry about you out there at
night.
ALLY
Then come with me!
JESS
Not happening.
ALLY
Then you leave me no choice.
Ally grabs the ladder and unhooks it from the top bunk.
EXT. ROOM 12 - BALCONY - CONTINUOUS
Ally drags the ladder onto the balcony and balances it on the
rail so it dangles over the edge. Jess chases her outside.
ALLY
Come with me to Massimos party or
the ladder gets it!
JESS
What are you doing?! Are you
insane?!
ALLY
I will drop it! I will!
JESS
Ally...put down the ladder.

4.
ALLY
Come to the party.
A car HONKS, followed by a WHISTLE (O.S.)
JESS
Jeez, Ally, youre flashing our
whole street right now!
Ally turns toward the street and shimmies.
ALLY
Whoooooo! Ciao, ragazzi!
HONK (O.S.) HONK (O.S.) WHISTLE (O.S.)
Jess grabs Ally by the waist and drags her back inside.
INT. ROOM 12 - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
JESS
Okay, there is no way Im letting
you loose on the world tonight.
Ally rolls her eyes.
JESS (CONTD)
Whats it going to take for you to
stay home and not get kidnapped by
Italian bar-rats?
ALLY
I thought all you cared about was
studying.
JESS
I changed my mind. I dont know if
it was your Victorias Secret
Fashion Show just now, but I
suddenly feel very concerned for
your well-being.
Ally beams. She throws her arms around Jess.
ALLY
Awwww! That is so sweet! Okay, Ill
stay in tonight.
Jess holds Ally at arms length.
Seriously?

JESS

5.
ALLY
Duh! I love you more than Massimo.
I just wasnt sure you loved me
back.
JESS
Youre such a girl.
Ally makes a pouty face.
JESS (CONTD)
Of course I love you.
(beat)
Can I have my ladder back now?
EXT. ROOM 12 - BALCONY - CONTINUOUS
Jess and Ally clumsily hoist up the ladder.
JESS
You get this side.
ALLY
Which side?
JESS
This side. Right here.
ALLY
I cant see where youre pointing.
JESS
Its not that hard!
ALLY
Stop yelling at me!
The ladder TOPPLES off the balcony and CRASHES to the ground.
ALLY (CONTD)
Im going to Massimos party.
JESS
Im going back to Inferno.
Have fun.
You too.

JESS (CONTD)
ALLY
FADE TO BLACK.