WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXIT MATTHEWS GAME?

BY
CHELSEA NELSON

Student ID: 5018869

Ph: 0430 599 904
chelsea_n@live.com.au

FADE IN:
INT. GAME - DARKNESS - NIGHT
A man in his mid twenties, MATTHEW, is in a VIRTUAL
REALITY GAME. Were it not for the slight glitch and harsh
white lines that frame the edges of the screen, this could
be just like any other day. In fact, this is somewhere
Matthew has been before.
INT. GAME - SMALL BAR - NIGHT
His workplace: a small bar.
MATTHEW is having a light conversation with some LOCALS at
the bar. He is polishing some glasses whilst leaning
against the liquor display behind him. He appears to be in
a good mood.
The atmosphere is lively, positive. MUSIC emanates
throughout the room. This appears to be a very welcoming
space... almost too welcoming.
Matthews BOSS, early 40s, appears with a clipboard and
pen, looking sullen. He looks at Matthew before beginning
to count stock at the other end of the bar. He is
crouching down facing away from Matthew.
Matthew stops polishing glasses and walks towards his
BOSS, ready for a confrontation. As if his BOSS were
expecting this, he turns around and bursts into a wide
GRIN.
BOSS
Matthew, my good man! What are
you still doing here? Go home!
Take a break! In fact, let me pay
you for next week now!
Matthew grins, he wasnt expecting this conversation to
lead into something positive. He smiles at his boss as he
hands over a weeks pay. Matthew walks over to the beer
taps and pours himself a glass of beer.
As he drinks this beer, the best hes ever had, the locals
in the bar all take turns in patting Matthew on the back
with unrealistic, hyperreal enthusiasm, as if the news of
Matthew being allowed to leave with one weeks advance has
further lifted their spirits.
Whilst this happens, there is a faint sound of a phone
RINGING somewhere far away. The ringing becomes louder
until it becomes necessary for the source of the ringing
to be located.
FADE TO:

2.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - NIGHT

MATTHEWs phone rings. He is transported from the GAME
back into reality. We are with Matthew in his apartment as
he sits on his couch, wearing the GAMING DEVICE which sits
on his head and covers his eyes. He takes off the GAMING
DEVICE and looks at the caller on his phone: MUM. We see
his features for the first time. He looks dishevelled,
exhausted, not particularly thrilled to be getting a
call from his mother at this late hour.
He answers the phone.
MATTHEW
Hello?
MUM (V.O.)
Hello dear. I just wanted to
remind you about our dinner plans
tomorrow night.
Matthews eyebrows furrow ever so slightly.
MUM (V.O.)(CONTD)
It would be nice if you could
bring Sarah along with you, you
know how fond your father is of
her.
She hangs up.
INT. GAME - RESTAURANT - NIGHT
The game-world setting changes.
This time we are in a restaurant, reminiscent of where
MATTHEWs family dinner might be held the following
evening. The restaurant is small but grande, with lots of
chit-chat filling the room. Instead of this chit-chat
boosting the energy of the room, it serves to fill it with
a sense of tension. Judging by the white table cloths and
black suits that colour the frame, this is a posh
restaurant. The diners around the room have a slight blur
to them, as if a part of their identity is missing. These
customers dont seem to be the focus here.
In the restaurant, MATTHEW sits at a dinner table with his
MUM, DAD and girlfriend, SARAH. His Dad (60s), a thin man
with a receding hairline, flirts with SARAH in front of
Matthew and his mum. Matthews Mum gets up to use the
bathroom, at which point Sarahs eyes grow wide as
Matthews Dad puts his hangs on her leg from underneath
the table.
Matthew is absentmindedly staring at his dad, seemingly
unaware of his surroundings. His Dad continues goggling at
Sarah.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.

Suddenly, Matthew LUNGES across the dinner table and grabs

his Dad around the neck and shoulders, sending them both
crashing down to the floor. Matthew begins to violently
shake his father as his father turns RED in the face.
FADE OUT.
INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - DAY
MATTHEW is lying on his couch, fast asleep and still
wearing the GAMING DEVICE. A LOUD BEEPING in his ear,
generated from the gaming devices low battery mode
FLASHING from a full night of use, causes Matthew to stir.
He slowly wakes up, then sits up.
On the GAMING DEVICE, text flashes:
Would you like to exit MATTHEWS GAME?
We see this text as though we are wearing the virtual
reality device with Matthew. Taking up the frame in the
background of this text is a still image of Matthew
attacking his Dad at the restaurant - the last image
generated from the GAMING DEVICE. This must be where the
GAME has left off.
Matthew takes off the gaming device and checks his watch.
He is running late for work. He panics, grabbing his keys
and running out the door in the same clothes as yesterday.
EXT. QUIET STREET - DAY
MATTHEW is on his way to work.
He gets in his car and proceeds to drive up his street. He
is driving slowly due to fatigue -- absentminded.
He turns on the radio. A radio segment on a new VIRTUAL
REALITY GAME can be heard faintly over his car speakers as
he drives.
RADIO SEGMENT DIALOGUE:
VOICE (V.O.)
...people are talking about the
social effects of the game in
both positive and negative
terms...
PRESENTER (V.O.)
well what exactly are they,
Claire? ...
VOICE (V.O.)
...well as an outlet which relies
on simulations of real people
from the gamers life...
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

SUDDENLY, Matthews girlfriend SARAH runs across the road

in front of Matthews car, forcing him to a stop. She is
wearing a GREEN dress. Both Sarah and Matthew are
unharmed, but both shocked by the situation.
After what seems like a long silence, Matthew is the first
to speak. He is clearly shaken up about this near fatal
incident and speaks without logic.
MATTHEW
Sarah... what the fuck?
Sarah simply STARES through the window at Matthew in the
drivers seat. She then runs off into the distance without
uttering a word.
Matthew leans out of his car-door window and yells at
Sarah as she runs off into the distance.
MATTHEW
SARAH! Oi! What the hell are you
doing here?
A car behind Matthew comes into view and BEEPS, signalling
for Matthew to move. Matthew is forced to get back at the
wheel and continues to drive up his street to work.
EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY
MATTHEW tries to find a car space in the carpark near his
work. As he is running late the car park is mostly full.
He turns a corner and manages to find a free space. He
indicates and prepares to reverse into it.
A car comes into view and CUTS Matthew off before he is
able to complete his park. The driver of the second car
drives straight into the spot Matthew was clearly
indicating to go into. The driver of the car gets out
before Matthew has a chance to say something. He sees that
it is his BOSS, the same man from Matthews game, although
slightly more wrinkled and sullen looking than his image
within it.
His boss sees Matthew in the drivers seat and gives him a
wide GRIN before walking past Matthews car and out of
sight. The same kind of grin he gave Matthew in the game
the previous night.
Matthew sees this prideful grin and takes it very
personally. He grabs hold of his steering wheel and begins
to shake it, cursing his fate and the long day to come.
CUT TO:

5.
INT. SMALL BAR - DINING AREA - DAY
MATTHEW enters the bar. Inside, a source of colour coming
from the back corner of the seating area catches Matthews
attention. In this corner, balloons hang down from the
ceiling and the colour GREEN fills the image.
The voices of his MUM and DAD can be heard through the
balloons.
VOICES
SURPRISE!
Matthew slowly notices his Mum and Dad standing around a
table at the back of the bar. They are also both dressed
in GREEN. His mum runs over to greet Matthew whilst his
Dad sits back down at the table.
MUM
(in quick bursts)
How are you darling? You look
exhausted. Do you like our
costumes?
Without realising, Matthew and his Mum have walked over to
the table where Matthews father sits.
His Dad stands up and plants a firm hand over Matthews
shoulder as he greets his son.
DAD
Hello Son. Thought wed surprise
you.
Matthews eyes grow evil and he shudders ever so slightly
at his Dads touch. However, his Dads tone is genuine he actually appears to be quite a nice guy. Nor does he
have the same receding hairline that he has in Matthews
VIRTUAL REALITY. Although wearing green, he looks slightly
better groomed and more handsome than he did at the
restaurant within the game.
At this point, SARAH appears behind Matthew.
SARAH
(kissing Matthew)
Happy Birthday babe!
Matthew hasnt yet had a chance to utter a single word.
This entire situation seems beyond logical to him and his
face is beginning to screw up with a mixture of contempt
and confusion. His parents would never surprise him like
this.
Sarah proceeds to greet Matthews Mum with a kiss. She
then hugs Matthews Dad. This hug appears to be held for
quite some TIME. This causes Matthew to reach breaking
point.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

6.

Slowly... Matthew breaks into a wide SMILE.

He beings to LAUGH.
His laughter continues.
Having laughed so much, he begins to CRY.
As he laughs, Sarah and his parents stare at Matthew in
disbelief, clearly concerned.
MUM
Darling, are you okay?
SARAH
Matthew?
DAD
Son, whats wrong?
Its his Dads words that cause Matthew to SNAP.
MATTHEW
(to his father)
Dont you DARE touch me! You
disgusting old man.
(to himself)
Couldnt leave her alone could
you.
(to sarah)
How could you do this to me? Is
that where you were this morning,
with him?
(to everyone)
I cant believe any of you. Get
out of my face. Im working.
He walks away, leaving them all hanging with shocked and
expressionless faces.
INT. SMALL BAR - AT THE BAR - DAY
MATTHEW is in conversation with some LOCALS at the bar. He
is polishing some glasses whilst leaning against
the liquor display behind him.
Matthews BOSS appears with a clipboard and pen. He looks
at Matthew before beginning to count stock at the other
end of the bar. He is crouching down facing away from
Matthew.
MATTHEW stops polishing glasses and walks towards his
BOSS, ready for a confrontation.
MATTHEW
Youre a miserable prick you know
that.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

Hes speaking to himself more than anyone else.

His boss remains silent. He doesnt turn around.
Growing angrier, Matthew walks towards the beer taps
and slowly pours a glass of beer. His eyes are violent
with intent as he looks from one side of the room to the
other. His parents and Sarah are still here, sitting
quietly at the same table in the corner of the bar. He
looks again at the locals who are gathered around the
bar... drunks. The quiet, miserable looking kind. The few
scattered balloons that were here to help celebrate
Matthews birthday are the only things that seem colourful
in this suddenly dark place.
Matthew picks up the glass of beer and walks back over to
his BOSS, who is now counting stock on another shelf,
still facing away from Matthew.
Meanwhile, a phone RINGS.
Slowly, Matthew pours the entire glass of beer over his
bosss head and SMIRKS with violent intent.
The VOLUME of the ringing increases ever so slightly.
Slowly, his boss turns around and STARES at Matthew.
Matthew looks from his boss to his family to see their
reaction. From their table, his family STARES.
The locals at the bar stop chatting amongst themselves.
They stare as well.
TENSION fills the room.
The phone rings LOUDLY. Then, UNEXPECTEDLY, one of the
locals ANSWERS the call.
Matthews eyes grow wide as he stares at the source of the
ringing. He is surprised that he is still standing at the
bar. He looks down at himself and sees the empty beer
glass he is still HOLDING in his hand.
He looks at his boss who is dripping in beer. He looks at
his family who appear to be appalled. He looks at Sarah
who has silent TEARS streaming down her face. He looks
back at the locals and the phone in one of their hands.
Slowly, Matthew comes to a realisation. We see it in his
face as he slowly wipes the SMIRK from it.
CUT TO:

8.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - DAY

The GAMING DEVICE sits on Matthews couch where he left
it, still flashing RED and BEEPING from low battery.
Closing in on the flashing red button, the beeping SOUND
and LIGHT come to a stop.
FADE OUT.

THE END