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Take Notes – FINAL SCRIPT 04.12.20

Take Notes
A short film by Libby Clark
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Take Notes – FINAL SCRIPT 04.12.20

(EXT.) – A STREET – MIDDAY

An empty pathway runs alongside an orange fence. The street is empty at

first until a young woman, JESSICA, begins to walk past. She holds a
sketchbook to her chest, her arms crossing over it much like a hug and
backpack rests over her shoulders.
She has headphones in her ears and her hair is tied back in a messy
ponytail. She is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt but it is clear from the
way she holds herself that she cares a lot about her appearance.
Jessica moves across the frame from left to right in time with her
music, that is playing loudly through her earphones. It’s an upbeat
song.
A mid-shot is used to show Jessica as she makes her way slowly past the
fence, and just as she gets past halfway she hesitates. Jessica looks
back over her left shoulder, the one closest to the fence, and
cautiously takes a step back. The shot changes to a close up of what
Jessica has seen. There is a small slip of paper poking out from inside
the fence.
The camera sits in front of Jessica at eye level as she stops completely
to look at the paper before reaching up to take out her headphones and
lay them across her sketchbook which she has now pulled away from her
chest. The music cuts out at the action and her entire attention is now
on the piece of paper, which the camera focuses on from beside Jessica.
There is writing on the paper, although it disappears into the fence
with the rest of the paper.
With some hesitance Jessica reaches out to tug the paper free from the
wood and holds it up to give it a good look. A close up is used to
showcase what it says from over Jessica’s shoulder.

Hello

The word is written in cursive writing, taking up most of the small

square of paper. It is folded over, with the word written on top,
although Jessica unfolds the sheet to see it is blank inside.
She looks up, glancing around the street to see if there is anyone
around that may have left it. A wide shot is used to show the still
empty street, and Seeing no one, Jessica looks back down at the note in
consideration.
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Take Notes – FINAL SCRIPT 04.12.20

After just a second she seems to make up her mind and gently shrugs her
backpack free from her shoulders and sets it on the floor. Jessica
crouches down beside the bag and opens it up to pull out a blue felt tip
pen. She writes on the paper, using her sketchbook as a rest. The shot
is once again a close up from over Jessica’s shoulder

Hello :)

After just a moment to admire her short note, Jessica nods to herself
and stands to tuck the sheet back where she found it, making sure that
her side of the paper is visible to people passing by. The camera
follows her movement from in front at eyelevel
Jessica adjusts her ponytail and brushes down her clothes before picking
her bag and sketchbook up again. She places her earphones back in her
ears and the music suddenly comes back in, this time a different song.

Jessica walks past the camera and the shot changes to a wide show as she
continues on her way.

(EXT.) – A STREET – MIDDAY

It’s the same street as last time, once again deserted and shown in a
wide shot. Jessica’s paper is still tucked into the fence, poking out
from between the wood just enough that her blue handwriting is visible.
Jessica appears from the left hand side again, much like she did before.
Once again she is holding her sketchbook in her arms but is missing her
headphones this time. She is once again dressed casually, although on
this occasion her hair is down.
Her gaze is fixed on the spot of fence that belongs to her note and she
doesn’t look away as she approaches it with purpose. It is clear she is
hoping for a reply, and a mid-shot is used as she stops in front of the
fence to gently pull the paper free.
A close up reveals that Jessica’s blue handwriting sits on top of the
paper still, and she turns to paper over in her hand, contemplating
opening it, just in case. The shot changes to beside Jessica and she
pulls her lip up between her teeth, and tilts her head to look the paper
over, as if staring at it will reveal a reply.
Jessica narrows her eyes for just a moment before giving in and
unfolding the paper.
There is no reply, the original message stares back at her, taunting.
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Take Notes – FINAL SCRIPT 04.12.20

She sighs, quickly closing the paper again, hiding the writing from
view. A wide shot is used again while Jessica glances around for a
moment, just to see if anyone has seen her before she tucks it back into
the fence.
She gives the paper an abrupt nod, almost as if wishing it luck, and
continues on her way yet again.

(EXT.)- The Street – Mid Afternoon

The same shot of the street, with the small slip of paper slotted in
between the two fence panels in the centre. Jessica is making her way
back into the frame like before, however this time she is approaching
from the opposite side. She is dressed the same and it is clear that she
is walking home now.
The paper no longer shows off Jessica’s blue handwriting. Instead it is
blank, as though it has been turned over. Jessica notices this as she
passes by, and just like before she hesitates and takes a few steps
back.
She shows no hesitance in reaching for the paper though and once sliding
her sketchbook beneath one arm, she is quick to reach up and slide it
free from the fence panes. The camera is at a slightly higher angle now,
and Jessica’s movement is made clear using a mid-shot.

The shot then changed to a close up of the paper. Jessica turns it over
in her hand and pulls it open. Inside is the same cursive writing as
before.

Hello

The message is just like the original one, however below it is more.

What’s your name?

It’s a simple question. A common one. Jessica smiles to herself, and

another shot from in front of Jessica shows her move to pull out a pen
from in her pocket. Prepared.
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Take Notes – FINAL SCRIPT 04.12.20
Just like before, Jessica leans against her sketchbook and writes out
her name in blue felt tip. A high angled close up from over her shoulder
right shows her signing off her message with another smiley face.

Jessica :)

She reads it over, still smiling to herself.

The shot changes to a wide shot with Jessica in the very middle of the
frame. Just as she is pushing the lid back onto her pen she looks up.
Jessica stares ahead for just a moment. Listening. And then, she looks
over her left should and follows it, turning slowly in a circle. No one
is there. Once she has turned a complete circle, she hesitates one more
time, glancing down at her message and then straight ahead. Almost as if
she has heard someone.
She hesitates for just a second longer and then reaches up to slide the
paper back into place. A mid-shot is used briefly to showcase her
movement before returning to a wide shot.
Jessica looks over her left shoulder once more and continues walking
home.

(EXT.)- The Street – Midday

Much like before the street is empty. Jessica is the only one on the
street again as she makes her way towards the note. Her sketchbook rests
against her back, slid into the straps of her backpack. She is walking
with purpose, and her whole focus is on the small slip of paper that
sits between the two fence panels.
Music is playing through her headphones again and Jessica walks quickly,
tripping over her feet a little. Her hand reaches out to slide the note
free from the fence before she is even close enough to reach. Her
actions are full of excitement, anticipating a response.
A mid-shot is used to capture her actions from the side and her energy
fades instantly as she slips the piece of paper free. A close up shows
that her own name is still scrawled across the top square, her blue
handwriting making it clear that no one has responded.
Jessica’s disappointment doesn’t last long though, and she reaches into
her pocket and pulls out a piece of ribbon. The camera sits in front of
Jessica, the angle higher than before, as she carefully begins to roll
the paper over so that it forms something like a scroll, and she then
proceeds to tie her ribbon around it. A close up is used to highlight
her actions.
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Take Notes – FINAL SCRIPT 04.12.20
She adjusts the ribbon, making sure it is sat perfectly before a mid-
shot shows her as she tucks one end in between the two fence panels.
The shot returns to a wide shot and this time Jessica doesn’t stop to
check admire her work, confident that she will get a reply. She
continues on her way, her steps calmer than before.

(EXT.) – The Street – Mid Afternoon

The shot fades into another one of the pathways, this time later in the
day. The camera hasn’t moved and no one is around, but unlike before the
pathway now has something drawn onto it.
There is chalk on the concrete path. Short lines can be seen across the
frame, going from one end of the path to another. They’re like
footsteps. In the middle of the frame, below where the notes sit is a
circle, taking up most of the path.
The note has changed again and no longer hangs from its ribbon, instead
it is a fresh piece of paper, tucked into the fence frames just like
every other note.
Jessica appears from the right hand side of the frame. She is walking
home again. Her sketchbook is still tucked behind her back and she still
has her headphones in. The song is different though, and the previous
song faded into this one with the change in shot.
Jessica gets halfway to the note when she notices the chalk on the
floor. A close up of her face as she looks down at it, and her steps
slow to a stop. Cautiously, she pokes at the markings with the toe of
her shoe, but they don’t fade. They have been there a while.
Jessica begins to walk again, she takes two more deliberate steps, her
feet landing perfectly on the chalk lines. A close up of her feet is
used as she moves. She looks up.
No one is there, but Jessica still looks over both of her shoulders.
First her left, then her right.
No one is there.
Another close-up is used as Jessica’s attention turns back to the chalk
markings, her eyes narrow and the shot changes to a Mid-shot. She
quickly closes the distance between herself and the note. She stands
inside the chalk circle.
She raises a tentative hand and slips the paper free from the fence.
Jessica looks once more over her shoulder before unfolding the paper.
The message inside is simple.

Thanks for the ribbon

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Take Notes – FINAL SCRIPT 04.12.20

A close up of the note is used and then the shot changes to a high
angled mid-shot from in front.
Jessica relaxes a little. She lets her finger run over the usual cursive
writing and slowly pulls out the blue pen from her left pocket.
Instead of leaning on her sketchbook, she rests the paper against the
fence and writes out her reply. A low angled close up from over her
shoulder showcases her response.

You’re welcome :)

Jessica pulls back, still pressing the note against the fence. The hand
holding the pen hovers, unsure whether to add more. After just a moment
she makes up her mind and the pen returns to the paper.

What’s your name?

Another wide shot.

In an instant of confidence, Jessica slides the note back into the
fence, and drops the pen back into her pocket. She taps the paper once,
for good luck and begins her walk home, making sure she walks perfectly
on the chalk lines as she goes. Exiting out the left hand side of the
frame.

(EXT.) – The Street – Midday

The street is empty as always. The chalk is still on the ground. Jessica
walks into frame from the left hand side. She is dressed how she usually
is, her hair is up and this time she is without her earphones. No music
is playing as she makes her way down the path, hugging her sketchbook
against her chest.
The note is left where it always is, right in the middle of the shot,
tucked into the fence. She makes her way slowly towards it, making sure
she walks on the lines set out for her.
Jessica doesn’t check over her shoulder this time. The camera is in
front of her, and a mid-shot is at eye level. She simply slides the
paper free, and with a smile on her face she pulls it open. She freezes.
Her eyes never move away from the paper in front of her. It moves
slightly as her hand trembles.
Jessica refuses to look up.
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Take Notes – FINAL SCRIPT 04.12.20
Instead, she drops the note and turns back the way she came.
She pays no notice to the chalk, her footsteps stumbling against the
pavement as she rounds the corner. It’s not the way she usually goes.
The camera doesn’t follow her. Instead someone else walks into the
frame, their back to the camera. They watch her go.
There is something in their hand.
The pile of notes.
A knife.
They step over the discarded note and follow Jessica around the corner.
A close up of the note.

You won’t make it to class today.