SCAPEGOATS AND SCAVENGERS

by Lesley Boland

Short Film
Email: [email protected]

'Scapegoats and Scavengers', is a slice of city life. Shirking school, Paul collides with Maria at an intersection and inadvertently sets off a small train of events that criss-crosses across the city, linking the lives of Paul, Maria and Sonya the shop assistant as they deal with bullies, brothers and impatient boyfriends. At the end of the day, it seems that no matter who crosses your path, how other people treat you is just not a good indication of how you should react.

Scapegoats and Scavengers. 


Written by
Lesley Boland

[email protected]
0423976550

Copyright, May 2005
 
i

Scapegoats and Scavengers.

Characters:

Maria
Paul
Sonya

Gavin - Paul's older brother
Josh - Maria's Boyfriend
Mick - Paul's Side Kick
Charlotte - Sonya's Manager

Customer


 
ii

Scapegoats and Scavengers.   

Interiors:

Department Store 

Exteriors:

City Street Intersection
City Walkway
Cafe
Park
 

1.  EXT.   STREET INTERSECTION   DAY

MARIA is standing at the lights, waiting for the green man.  There are no cars around but she's waiting anyway.  She fingers a pink
envelope with "Josh" written on it, surrounded by ornate love hearts. 

Further down the street PAUL and MICK are skateboarding towards her.  They ride with their hips thrust out.  Easily, as if they're slouching against a wall. 

Maria takes a small box wrapped in pink paper out of her bag and examines it for defects.  She smiles.  Satisfied. 

SFX:  MARIA'S mobile rings with some cutesy ringtone. 

MARIA grabs it with a sigh.  She knows who it's going to be. 

               MARIA
I'm on my way.  (Beat)  I know you have to work, but this is really important.  I have a surprise for you.  (Beat)  I'll be there soon, I promise. I'm really close.  Love you.  (Hangs up, then to herself)  Yeesh, I'm not that late!

PAUL and MICK get to the crossing but there isn't enough room for them to pass.  MARIA hasn't heard them coming.  PAUL speeds past. 

               PAUL
Out of the way, you stupid bitch!

PAUL knocks MARIA out of the way.  She stumbles and drops her pink box.  PAUL and MICK skate across the road.  A car beeps at them. 

               MICK
Stupid cow!

GAVIN, further down the street in the middle of some shady deal, hears the commotion and sees PAUL.  He sets off after them. 

MARIA watches PAUL and MICK go with disbelief.  Then she looks down and realises she has dropped her gift.  When she picks it up, cologne leaks out onto her hands.  She stifles a profanity, throws the box on the ground and charges across the road just as the green man lights up and the black box explodes into frenzied beeping. 

2.  EXT.   CITY WALKWAY    DAY

PAUL and MICK and fooling around trying to do tricks over benches.  PAUL is much better than MICK but his skateboard wheels keep catching. 
               PAUL
Guess what I got.

               MICK
What?

PAUL pulls out two fifty dollar bills. 

               PAUL
I pinched it from mum.

               MICK
Seriously?

               PAUL
Nah, I didn't "pinch it" pinch it.  I just said I had an excursion at school.  

               MICK
What do you want to do, then?  Wanna get pissed?

               PAUL
Who's gonna sell us booze? 

               MICK
(Beat)  Someone might. 

               PAUL
Don't be stupid.  I'm going to get a new skateboard. 

               MICK
Why?  Skateboards are so overrated.

               PAUL
Just 'cos you're shit at it.

               MICK
I reckon we should get booze.  We could get a whole bottle of Jack Daniel's with that. 

               PAUL
I'm getting a skateboard.  You can come with or you can piss off back to school. 

               MICK
Fine.  But it's a waste of money. 

               PAUL
Shut up.

PAUL and MICK are about to head off when MICK sees PAUL'S older brother, GAVIN, walking towards them.  GAVIN is in his twenties,
and very skinny.  Technically, he still lives at home but never seems to spend much time there. 

               MICK
Hey, watch out, here comes shit head. 

               PAUL
Fuck. 

               GAVIN
Hand it over. 

               PAUL
What?

               GAVIN
I heard you this morning.  (Imitating PAUL) It's an excursion mum, everyone has to go.  (Beat)  You haven't been to school all week. 

               PAUL
That's not true.

               GAVIN
It fucking is.  I've seen you here, pretending you're hot shit on that crappy skateboard. 

               PAUL
So what?

               GAVIN
So give me the bloody money. 

               PAUL
Fuck you. 

PAUL tries to skate away but GAVIN grabs him and twists his arm behind his back.  The skateboard spins out from under PAUL'S feet, hits a step and the front wheels fall off.  PAUL yelps.  GAVIN searches PAUL'S pockets until he finds the fifties, then lets go. 

               GAVIN
You shouldn't steal from her, anyway.  Dad does that enough.  Find some one who can afford it. 

GAVIN walks purposefully away.  PAUL rubs his sore arm. 

               PAUL
(To MICK) Thanks for your help!

               MICK
Is he going to give it back to your mum?

               PAUL
He's a junkie, you idiot.  What do you think?

PAUL looks at his broken skateboard and kicks it angrily. 

3. INT. DEPARTMENT STORE DAY

MARIA taps her fingers impatiently on the counter in a cheap department store.  Nearby, SONYA is rearranging some shelves.  CHARLOTTE, the manager, is the first to notice that MARIA is unattended. 

               CHARLOTTE
Sonya!  What are you doing? 

               SONYA
Re-stocking these shelves like you...

               CHARLOTTE
You have a customer.

SONYA spins around to see MARIA. 

               SONYA
Oh, sorry, I didn't realise. 

               CHARLOTTE
Well, you weren't looking, were you?  (To MARIA) I'm so sorry.  She's just a trainee. 

MARIA nods and smiles obligingly.  She understands CHARLOTTE'S frustration.  SONYA hesitates, she doesn't know if CHARLOTTE wants to serves this customer herself. 

               CHARLOTTE
(To SONYA) Go on.  The lady hasn't got all day. 

SONYA goes to the counter, conscious that CHARLOTTE is standing behind her, watching her every move. 

               SONYA
Hi, what can I do for you?

               MARIA
I want a bottle of 'Xeryus Rouge'. 

               SONYA
I'm sorry?

               MARIA
'Xeryus Rouge'.  It’s by Givenchy. 

 
              SONYA
Oh, a perfume?

               MARIA
Cologne.  And I need it gift wrapped as well. 

               SONYA
(Stalling)  Well, just let me have a look. 

SONYA ducks behind the counter to rummage in the shelves.  She has no idea where to find it or what it looks like.  Luckily, another customer distracts CHARLOTTE. 

               MARIA
I'm actually in a bit of a hurry. 

               SONYA
(From under the counter)  I don't think we stock it.

               MARIA
What?  It's a famous brand!

               SONYA
(Standing up)  Or we may have run out.

               MARIA
How is that supposed to help me?

               SONYA
(Beat)  Maybe you'd like to test some of our other fragrances...

               MARIA
I'm not interested in any others.  It has to be this one. 

               SONYA
I'm sorry, but I don't think...

               MARIA
That's just brilliant. 

MARIA thumps her hands on the counter in frustration.  She flounces out but continues her tirade loudly enough for SONYA to hear.  

               MARIA (CONT'D)
What a useless waste of my time!  What am I supposed to do?

SFX:  MARIA'S cutesy ringtone.  

              
MARIA
(Furious)  Yes, Josh, I'm on my way. 

SONYA stares after her.  CHARLOTTE, seeing SONYA idle at the counter yells at her. 

               CHARLOTTE
Sonya!  Don't just stand there staring into space. 


4. EXT. CAFE DAY

MARIA, flustered, walks up to JOSH at an outdoor table.  He has finished his coffee and is about to leave.  Without sitting down MARIA flings the card, crumpled and smudged with cologne, on the table in front of him. 

JOSH, thinking it is his 'surprise', makes a transparent effort to hide his impatience. 

               JOSH
Thank god you're here.  I was about to leave.  What's this?

MARIA is outraged. 

               MARIA
Well, nothing, I guess. 

               JOSH
Nothing?  Maria, what's wrong?

               MARIA
You can't accept a present, that's what's wrong.  (Beat) Look, if you don't want it...

MARIA tries to take the envelope back but JOSH stands and catches her wrist. 

               JOSH
I don't even know what it is.  Stop being such a baby. 

               MARIA
I am not a baby! 

MARIA wrenches her arm away.  The envelope tears and falls to the ground. 

               MARIA (CONT'D)
Now look what you've done. 

JOSH hesitates.  This is a scene he is familiar with.  Then he comes to a decision. 

               JOSH
I don't have time for this.   

JOSH grabs his things. 

               JOSH (CONT'D)
I'm going to work. 

JOSH walks off.  MARIA is so stunned she just watches him leave. 

4. INT. DEPARTMENT STORE DAY

SONYA is kneeling on the floor struggling with the stock on the bottom shelf.  It's difficult and uncomfortable.  She stands up and stretches her sore back and knees. 

               SONYA
Charlotte, I'm just going out for a cigarette. 

               CHARLOTTE
(Beat)  Are you asking me, or telling me?

SONYA shrugs.  Whatever.

               CHARLOTTE (CONT'D)
You've got five minutes.  

5. EXT. CITY WALKWAY DAY

PAUL and MICK are staring at a window display of skateboards and other extreme sports paraphernalia.  PAUL is engrossed.  There's one board in there that looks so awesome.  MICK is bored. 

PAUL pulls a nasty face.  He turns suddenly and walks off.  MICK struggles to keep up. 

               MICK
Dude, where are you going?

PAUL ignores him.  They pass the cafe where MARIA is standing, still unable to fathom how JOSH could just leave her like that. 

               MICK (CONT'D)
It was overpriced anyway. 

PAUL keeps walking. 

               MICK
Let's go back to my place.  We can play video games. 

PAUL keeps walking. 

               MICK
(Whining)  Dude?  Slow down. 

Rounding a corner PAUL stops suddenly and turns around.  MICK nearly crashes into him. 

6. EXT. CAFE DAY

MARIA looks down at the envelope.  She suppresses a sob. Then she grabs the envelope and starts off after JOSH. 

7. EXT. CITY WALKWAY DAY

PAUL is about to explode at MICK but then he notices SONYA, with her back to them.  She is having a cigarette and her purse is dangling enticingly from her elbow.

PAUL looks at MICK and then back at SONYA'S purse. 

MICK catches on.

               MICK
Man, I dunno...

8. EXT. CITY WALKWAY DAY

MARIA is running up the street.  People keep getting in her way.  Don't they know it’s an emergency? 

9. EXT. CITY WALKWAY DAY

PAUL grabs SONYA'S handbag. 

               SONYA
Hey?

SONYA is stunned but quick enough to hold on and grapple with him.  MICK stands by uselessly not knowing what to do.  PAUL realises that this won't be as easy as he expects. 

               PAUL (TO MICK)
Help me, you idiot! 

MICK starts to move forward. 

               SONYA
LET GO!

SONYA wrenches her purse out of PAUL'S hands. 

Suddenly MARIA charges around the corner.  She barrels through, knocking PAUL over.  MICK only just has time to jump back out of her way.  But MARIA doesn't stop.  She keeps running and without looking back.   She hasn't even realised who they were. 

PAUL and MICK are left facing SONYA.  No one moves for a moment.  Then SONYA takes a step towards them and stamps her foot as if she's shooing away a dog. 

               SONYA
Get Lost. 

PAUL and MICK scarper. 

10. EXT. CITY WALKWAY DAY

MARIA runs up to JOSH. 

               MARIA
Josh!  Wait! 

JOSH turns around and MARIA tries to hug him. 

               MARIA (CONT'D)
I just wanted to make it perfect but then...

               JOSH
I don't care.

               MARIA
I bought you some cologne.  You'd have really liked it. 

               JOSH
Why?  Its not my birthday.  I don't even wear cologne.   

               MARIA
I just wanted to show you that I loved you.  

               JOSH
But you don't.  You just like acting as if you do.  And the second it doesn't turn out how you want it to, you flip.  I'm tired of pretending I'm some Mills and Boon superhero who indulges his girlfriend even when she's forty-five bloody minutes late. 

               MARIA
But...

JOSH
Its over.  You're too much work.  

JOSH walks away. 

MARIA stares after him, dumbfounded.  She almost starts to cry but then an elderly charity worker approaches with a collection box.  He opens his mouth to speak but MARIA cuts him off. 

               MARIA
Can't you just fuck off?  

11. EXT. PARK DAY

PAUL and MICK have been sprinting towards the park.  PAUL reaches it first and slows down.  He is laughing.  MICK catches up.

               PAUL
That was fucking awesome!

PAUL collapses on the grass, laughing and panting.  MICK watches him.   

               MICK
(Obviously unsure) Yeah...Awesome.   

12. EXT. CITY WALKWAY DAY

SONYA feels a bit cocky. 

               SONYA
Those little shits!

               CHARLOTTE (O.S)
Time's up Sonya.  I need you back now.

SONYA pulls another cigarette out of her bag and lights it up.  Then, smiling, walks off in the other direction. 

Ends. 

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Copyright, May 2005

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