CHIP CHALLENGE

Written by

Julian De Cardenas

10200 University Blvd, Unit #47, Orlando, Fl, 32817

(786) 810-8434
 FADE IN:

EXT. COLLEGE BREEZEWAY - DAY

A bright, beautiful, and breezy autumn afternoon. CARL, your

standard college student, walks about his college campus,
earbuds on, listening to music.

Carl hears a notification go off on his phone and feels a

vibration on the side of his leg. He pulls out his phone from
his pocket. His earbuds fall from his ears in the commotion.

The notification reads: REMINDER: Trigonometry class in 1

hour (2:00-3:30).

CARL
I should probably start heading
over to class.

Carl suddenly feels his stomach rumble.

CARL (CONT’D)
Ah shit. Haven’t eaten in awhile.
(Peering eyes)
There’s got to be something I
could...

From the corner of his eye, Carl spots a vending machine

within an alleyway.

CARL (CONT’D)
Bingo!

Carl makes his way towards the machine.

EXT. COLLEGE BREEZEWAY - ALLEYWAY - CONTINUOUS

Carl approaches the machine, full of all types of snacks and

confectionaries.
CARL
Let’s see what we got here...

One bag of chips particularly catches Carl’s eye: Yukon

Gold’s: Spicy BBQ.

Carl smacks his lips, eyes glued to the bag of chips.

CARL (CONT’D)
I didn’t know the school carried
Yukon Gold’s.
(MORE)
 2.

CARL (CONT’D)
And yet, the school can’t afford to
spend the money for to clean the
bathrooms properly.

Carl reaches for his wallet and pulls out a crisp, dollar
bill. He completes his purchase.

Deafening silence, occasionally broken by the sound of the

machine processing the bill. All Carl can do is impatiently
wait.

The purchase is complete.

CARL (CONT’D)
Alright. Here we go.
The bag of chips is released from its former prison. As the
chips fall, heartbreak. The bag remain stuck in the machine.

CARL (CONT’D)
Oh, come on man.

Carl pounds the machine with his bare fists. The chips do not
move.

Carl frantically presses the buttons. The chips do not move.

CARL (CONT’D)
Give me my chips, you stupid son of
a bitch!

Carl retreats, sweat covering his face. The bag remains as it

did: unmoved.

Carl tries to shake the machine. The chips do not move.

CARL (CONT’D)
Okay...
(Gasping for air)
Perhaps I require a little more
force.
CUT TO:

EXT. COLLEGE BREEZEWAY - CONTINUOUS

Carl stares intensely at the vending machine. He positions

himself like a football offensive center.

CARL
Desperate times call for...
 3.

EXT. COLLEGE BREEZEWAY - ALLEYWAY - CONTINUOUS

Carl sprints towards the vending machine.

CARL
Desperate measures!

Carl crashes into the machine and falls to the ground in

pain.

VARIOUS ONLOOKERS walk past Carl’s painful moaning and

groaning. Some laugh.

Among the onlookers is TOMMY, Carl’s friend, who offers Carl

a hand up.

TOMMY
Yo Carl. You alright man?

CARL
(Regaining composure)
Yeah, I’m good, apart from this
stupid vending machine getting in
the way.

Carl shows Tommy the bag of Yukon Gold’s, still stuck inches
away from the slot.

TOMMY
Oh I see. Damn, that sucks bro.

CARL
(Thinking)
Y’know...Two is greater than one
right?

TOMMY
Uh... yes?

CARL
Think you can give me a hand in
shaking this thing?

TOMMY
Sure, I got nothing better to do.
But, if we get in trouble, I was
never here.

Carl and Tommy stand on opposite sides of the vending

machine. Both firmly plant their hands on the machine and get
into position.

CARL
On my count. Three. Two. One!
 4.

Both boys push the vending machine with all their strength.
Their actions prove futile.

Carl collapses as he tries to regain his breath.

Tommy spots a CUSTODIAN from the corner of his eye.

TOMMY
(Nervously)
Well, I’ve done all I can do. Sorry
bro, I got to go.
(Walking away)
See you later.

Carl gets up and desperately walks towards Tommy.

CARL
Wait, where are you going? Tommy,
come back!

Tommy sees Carl approaching him and picks up the pace.

CARL (CONT’D)
Please help me! Please!

Tommy escapes. Carl stops.

CARL (CONT’D)
Please...
(Pauses; scoffs to
himself)
Whatever, who needs him anyways?

Carl makes his way back to the vending machine. He gets

another notification on his phone, reading: Reminder:
Trigonometry class in 15 minutes.

CARL (CONT’D)
(Panicking)
Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck! What do
I do? What do I do?
In a fit of worry, Carl glances at the vending machine slot
and crouches towards it.

CARL (CONT’D)
Let’s see if this works.

Carl reaches his hand inside the machine and tries to

navigate his arm around the inside. MORE ONLOOKERS walk by,
strangely captivated at the sight.
 5.

Carl further stretches his arm inside and just barely grabs
the bag of Yukon Gold’s. He pulls his arms back with the
chips in hand.

CARL (CONT’D)
Yes, finally!
(Beat)
Okay, time to run.

CUT TO:

MONTAGE - COLLEGE CAMPUS RUN

A. Carl frantically sprints through the school breezeway,

bumping into people along the way.
B. Carl crosses the road to get to his classroom, coming to
near contact with various cars and vehicles.

C. Carl sprints into the classroom building. He heads towards

the seemingly endless stairs.

D. Carl makes it to the top of the stairs and faceplants

through the door.

END MONTAGE

INT. CLASSROOM BUILDING HALLWAY - DAY

Carl continues to walk fast with the small amount of energy

he has.

CARL
(Panting)
Almost...there.

Carl makes it to the classroom. On the door is a sign with a

shocking revelation written on it: Class is cancelled. Carl,
disheveled and covered in sweat, stares in disbelief.
CARL (CONT’D)
I’m over it.

Carl pulls out his bag of chips. He opens up the bag, grabs a
lonely chip, and takes a bite.

CUT TO:

CREDITS
6.