THAT FIRST MESSAGE

By

Luke Ackroyd

Prompt: Write a Romance

INT. SUBWAY CARRIAGE - EVENING
A grubby, half-busy subway train. RICK, 30s, shy, awkward,
slouches in his seat, before him, a COUPLE expressing a
lot of PDA.
Rick lets out a quiet sigh, pulls out his phone.
He brings up ’SWEETHEARTS: DATING APP’, begins swiping
away. Left. Right. Left. Left. Right. Zero matches. He
looks disheartened. Puts the phone back in his pocket.

INT. RICK’S APARTMENT - EVENING

Rick steps inside. The entrance hall, gloomy, dark.

BUZZ! His pocket vibrates. Curious, he pulls out his

phone. The light illuminating the darkness around him.
A smile forms on his face. On the screen: A MATCH! He
readies his thumbs...

He hesitates.
The app reads: ’DON’T KEEP YOUR MATCH WAITING. SEND THAT
FIRST MESSAGE’

Rick gulps, lowers his phone for a second, before bringing

it back up to type...

?. RICK’S IMAGINATION - ?

Text floats above a closed door: RICK IS TYPING A

MESSAGE...
The door swings open, revealing Rick, sweaty, nervous.

RICK
Hi. Hey. Hello. I- I saw that you
also like this movie that I like
and well, since I also liked it I
figured, we might be a good
match. I mean, I know we might
not be a good fit when we start
talking, but I- I well, figured
it was worth a message, anyway.
No worries if you aren’t
interested. I just- uh- I mean-
hi....
 2.

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

Rick’s thumb rests firmly on DELETE. Erasing the message.
He sits up straight, goes back to typing...

?. RICK’S IMAGINATION - ?
The door swings open, revealing Rick in a smart suit, a
smug smile on his face.

RICK
Hello there. Pleasure to meet
you. I hope you’re having a
lovely evening. I know I am, now
that I’ve seen you..

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

Rick frowns, deleting the message.

?. RICK’S IMAGINATION - ?
The door swings open again. Rick, in all plain attire,
blank expression.

RICK
(monotone)
Hi.

INT. KITCHEN - EVENING

Rick is cooking dinner, he glances at his phone. Still no
message sent.

?. RICK’S IMAGINATION - ?
The door creeks open. Just Rick’s eyes in view, peering
creepily from around the door frame.
RICK
I really liked that third photo
of you. Very Nice...

INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING

Rick shudders. Another message deleted.

He tucks into his dinner on the sofa, glancing to the TV:
A confident, cool dude is being very assertive. Rick nods
along...
 3.

?. RICK’S IMAGINATION - ?
The door is kicked open, with a SLAM! Rick swaggers out,
shades on, leather jacket.

RICK
You. Me. Friday. Eight. Dinner.
Romance. Be there.

INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

Rick rolls his eyes, puts phone down and goes back to
brushing his teeth.

?. RICK’S IMAGINATION - ?
Rick swings the door open, a heart shaped sweater on.
Flowers in his hands.
RICK
I’m so glad we matched! You seem
really cool and interesting and I
just really want to get to know
you!

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Rick groans, frustrated with himself. Tucked up in bed,
still staring at his phone. The only light source in his
room. He sighs...

?. RICK’S IMAGINATION - ?
The door opens. Rick steps out, looking like himself once
more. He’s bashful, but has a friendly smile.

RICK
Hey. I’ve spent way too much time
now, trying to write up a perfect
first message. I just, I never
really know what to say on these
things. I guess I always over
think it. Not wanting to make a
bad first impression. Double
guessing how I might come across.
I don’t know why I put all this
pressure on it. I’ve never met
you. You’ve never met me. What
does it really matter what I
send? We’ll ever get along or we
wont. I should just send
something. Anything. And just see
how it goes...
 4.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Rick glances at the time. Late. The chat log still blank
on his phone.

He closes his eyes for a moment, takes a deep breath, and

types again.
SEND... He smiles.

ERROR. His smile turns to confusion. A message pops up:

’UNABLE TO SEND MESSAGE’
He refreshes the page... ’NO MATCHES’ He’s been unmatched.
RICK
Oh...
Rick laughs, finally a smile. he lobs the phone away and
goes to sleep.
THE END