MISSCONCEIVED

by Rayed Darwish

Short Film
Email: [email protected]

During the “Cronulla Riots” and its aftermath, I got to thinking how the media misconstrue multiculturalism to voice an opinion that reflects the minority of Australians. Misconceptions were amplified to paint a picture of a certain group, which, in essence, I felt was false. Hence, MissConceived. It tells the story of a young Anglo Saxon female lost in Western Sydney who finds her self in a car accident with a man of “Middle Eastern” appearance – in the dead of the night. What follows is a tale of misconceptions being questioned, scrutinized and redefined by not only her words but also her actions. Will she escape her predicament?

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P
hone
ARABIC MUSIC fills the air.
FADE IN:
EXT. SYDNEY - LAKEMBA - CANTERBURY ROAD - WRX - NIGHT
CANTERBURY ROAD is empty. A WRX comes into shot and PURRS
along smoothly. It suddenly ACCELERATES like a tiger
unleashed from captivity!

INT. SYDNEY - LAKEMBA - WRX
The driver is MIK HALOUM, a 25 year old Arab with a welltrimmed
goatee. The ARABIC MUSIC consumes his very being. He
looks up at the --
REAR VIEW MIRROR --

-- which holds a CHRISTIAN CROSS and DRUZE STAR. Mik touches
both with care.

EXT. SYDNEY - LAKEMBA - CANTERBURY ROAD - COROLLA - NIGHT
A TOYOTA COROLLA rolls along the same road. The driver
appears to be talking on the MOBILE PHONE while driving. She
listens to a RADIO COMMENTATOR bubble about the “terrorism
problem”.
INT. COROLLA

The occupant is IRENE WALKER, a 28 year old blonde and a
cosmetic companies ideal customer. With hand on mobile, she
seems flustered and agitated.

IRENE
Jim! I’m lost! I don’t know where I am.
She looks at --

EXT. SYDNEY - LAKEMBA - CANTERBURY ROAD
-- the WELCOME TO LAKEMBA sign.
This makes Irene a little more tense.

.
(CONTINUED)
EXT. SYDNEY - LAKEMBA - WRX
The WRX pulls up to a RED LIGHT on the corner of CANTERBURY
RD. and KING GEORGES ROAD. No one is around as the ARABIC
MUSIC blares out.
INT. SYDNEY - LAKEMBA - WRX
Mik waits for the light to change. The light suddenly turns
GREEN and -- BANG!! Mik has been hit from behind. He looks in
the --
REAR VIEW MIRROR
MIK
Shit!
EXT. SYDNEY - LAKEMBA - CANTERBURY ROAD - NIGHT
The Corolla has slightly bumped the WRX. Irene still holds
the mobile.
I
NT. COROLLA
IRENE
S-h-i-t!
EXT. SYDNEY - LAKEMBA - WRX
CAMERA ON WRX DOOR as Mik steps out. He wears WHITE SNEAKERS
and RED TRACKSUIT PANTS.
Irene is guilty and nervous as hell!
Mik’s feet stop right outside Irene’s door. As we see Mik’s
reflection in the mirror, Irene looks up at him like a scared
little girl.
This further angers Mik as it appears Irene will not
communicate at all with him. Mik walks back to his car, opens
the back door, ruffles around a bit, finds what he is looking
for, closes the door and walks back to Irene.
Irene stalls the car! A smirk develops on Mik’s face as he
puts his hand into a pocket and takes out a --
.
CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)
-- PAD AND PEN --
Irene is so relieved but still a little tense!
MIK
Would you mind giving me your details so
we could finalize this matter as quickly
as possible?
Irene is somewhat surprised at Mik’s well-spoken manner and
pronunciation of the English language.
MIK (CONT’D)
Well?
Irene winds down the window, slowly. She looks around. The
place is empty.
While Mik waits for a response from Irene, he takes his pad
and pen and begins taking down her LICENCE PLATE NUMBER. He
then looks at his car’s damage.
At this, a rejuvenated Irene gets out of the car. She
approaches MIk, who has knelt down to look at his car, away
from Irene's gaze.
IRENE
I think...
MIK
(interrupts)
Were you talking on your mobile phone?
Irene wants to lie but can’t.
IRENE
Well...
MIK
I understand.
Mik gets up and walks to Irene and stands not one feet from
h
er. Irene's comfort zone has definitely been infringed.
MIK (CONT’D)
Could I please have your details?
.
CONTINUED: (2)
(CONTINUED)
Irene looks at Mik’s shoes, pants and hooded yellow top.
MIK (CONT’D)
These are my p.j’s.
IRENE
Oh...OK.
Irene takes out her license and, instead of handing it to
Mik, holds it in her hand so he can look at it.
WIDE SHOT as Mik takes down her details.
Mik hands Irene his licence. She doesn't seem to know what to
do.
MIK
To make this all legal. For your
insurance company.
Irene walks to the back door of her car, rummages and finds
what she’s looking for. She walks back to Mik with pad and
pen. She again looks at his “juvenile” appearance and takes
down his details.
MIK (CONT’D)
I visit my mother every Monday night
after work.
(looks her up and down)
You a solicitor?
IRENE
Barrister.
MIK
Really? Who you work for?
IRENE
Spiel and Berg.
MIK
Wow! I was gonna’ work for them but I
chose Moses and Sons.
Irene is certainly surprised by this revelation. Her walls of
prejudice appear to deteriorate.
.
CONTINUED: (3)
(CONTINUED)
IRENE
(smiling)
Is that right?
MIK
Pay’s better and there's beer night every
Wednesday
IRENE
I -- thought...
MIK
Don't allow my appearance to fool you.
I’m actually a bigger dag at home. Well
that's what the wife says.
Mik looks at Irene with a tinge of sadness.
MIK (CONT’D)
You're lost aren't you?
IRENE
A little.
MIK
A lot I think.
Both chuckle.
AN XY GT PACKED WITH “HABIBS” screech to a halt in front of
Mik and Irene. One of the habibs sticks his head out. Irene's
smile quickly evaporates.
HABIB 1
Yo Mik, who's the chick?
ALL THE HABIBS
Yeah Mik, WHO’S the chick!
Irene steps back to her car. Mik approaches the habibs and, a
few quite words later, they leave, but not before laying down
a huge BURNOUT!
Mik walks to an unsure Irene.
.
CONTINUED: (4)
(CONTINUED)
MIK
It’s OK.
(beat)
Look, you better go home. Where you
headed?
Irene takes a deep breath.
IRENE
M4!
MIK
Turn right here and a few K up the road
you’ll see the sign.
A POLICE CAR, at break neck speed, flies along St. George
Road in the direction of the “habibs”.
Mik gives her his business card.
MIK (CONT’D)
Any problems, give me a call at work.
(beat)
Take care.
Mik walks back to his car, opens the door and gets in.
Irene has something to say and runs to Mik’s car. Mik unwinds
his window when he sees Irene approach him. He waits for an
almost speechless Irene to speak.
IRENE
I'm..I'm so sorry...
MIK
(interrupts)
Don’t be sorry for who you are...
Mik starts the car!
MIK (CONT’D)
...I’m not.
And drives away.
.
CONTINUED: (5)
WIDE SHOT of a lonely Irene who appears to be the only human
on earth.
FADE OUT.

 

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