THE MEETING ON THE BENCH

By

Luke Ackroyd

Prompt: Write a silent film

EXT. PARK - DAY
SARAH (40s, curious, imaginative) flicks through a Spy
novel, relaxing on a park bench.

A trench coat wearing STRANGER, suspiciously sits down

besides her. Shades on, her hat lowered.. They peer side
to side...
Sarah lowers the book a little, raising an eyebrow at the
stranger.

The Stranger slides a folded NOTE across the bench towards

her. Sarah looks down at it- then at the stranger. The
stranger nods. She has a knowing look.

Sarah nods back... an UN-knowing look. Very confused.

Sarah reaches to pick up the note- but a GUST OF WIND
blows it away.
The stranger face palms. Disgruntled, they begin writing a
new note, whilst Sarah waits patiently, her book lowered
completely now.
A new note is slid towards her. She picks it up right
away. Opening it up, it reads: DON’T SPEAK. THEY COULD BE
LISTENING

Sarah turns to the stranger and immediately goes to speak-

The stranger puts a finger to their lips. Silence. Sarah
frowns.
The stranger scribbles a new note. Slides it along. Sarah
reads: WAIT FOR THE SIGNAL, THEN GO AHEAD WITH THE PLAN.
Sarah looks around for the signal. The park seems to be as
mundane as usual. People walking past. Kids playing
football.

Sarah squints, looking harder for a signal. Did that

Squirrel wink? Does that Cloud look like a thumbs up? Was
that person holding a sign reading: ’THIS IS THE SIGNAL’
The signal?

Sarah double takes at that sign. She glances at the

Stranger, who’s glaring back at her expectantly. Sarah
shrugs.
The Stranger, frustrated, scribbles down a new note.
Glances side to side.. and slides it towards Sarah. This
one reads: ’START THE TRANSACTION’
Sarah looks confused... again. The Stranger begins sliding
a briefcase along to her on the floor.
Sarah picks it up, unlocks it slowly. Inside.... another
NOTE!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

Sarah rolls her eyes, opens the note, reads: ’DECOY

EXCHANGE COMPLETE. PREPARE FOR THE REAL EXCHANGE’. Sarah
slams the briefcase closed.

The stranger nods towards a Tree, where an MYSTERIOUS

OBSERVER is watching with binoculars. The tree... is not
very far away. The observer nods back.
A BAG on a SKATEBOARD is rolled out towards the bench. The
stranger stops it rolling with their feet. Sarah watches
in disbelieve, as the stranger scribbles down something on
yet another note, and places it in the bag.
The stranger moves their foot out of the way. The
skateboard continues to roll towards Sarah’s feet now.
Sarah moves her feet out of the way...

The skateboard continues to roll past the bench and down

the hilly pathway. Sarah smirks, watching it roll away.
The stranger yanks off her hat and shades. Slightly
bewildered, mostly annoyed. She goes to Yell-

A HAND waves from across the pathway. Sarah and the

Stranger slowly turn, to see another STRANGER, trench
coat, shades and hat too. Waving for the first strangers’
attention.

The stranger awkwardly waves back. A blush. Mouthing

’SORRY’ to Sarah, she stands up and crosses over to the
opposite bench.
Sarah watches them begin the same note passing exchange
from before. She rolls her eyes and goes back to her book.
THE END