THE HEAD JOB

by Michael and Rohana Griffith

Short Film
Email: [email protected]

Its not only funny but political, dealing with a man whose use to getting his way with youth and charm suddenly realising he's a slave.

THE HEAD JOB
[Draft One]
by
The Griffith's
 
1: INT. DAY          THE MAIN OFFICE
The entire screen is taken up with a woman’s face frozen in mid wail. She is ugly. Even distorted, with no sound until the title appears then we hear her, sobbing piercing wail.
LANCE, handsome and in his late twenties is screwing his face to her wail. 
LANCE
Come on love. It’s okay. I’ll talk to him.
GIRL
Are you sure?
LANCE
(gives her a wink)
He and I . ..
(shows her crossed fingers)
Closer even. 

2: INT.DAY ESTABLISHING
AN OFFICE DOOR. WRITING ON DOOR
                 “Manager”
                 A. M. Meek.
LANCE, a cocky grin, knocks.
3: INT.  DAY      MEEK’S OFFICE
AURTHER MEEK, mid forties and meek and tired looking looks up from behind his desk where he is organising his Palm Top.
MEEK
Lance.
LANCE, all self-assured smile and swagger comes over to the other side of his desk.
LANCE
See the footy?

 

(CONT'D)

MEEK
Yes.
LANCE
What a game.
MEEK
My team lost.
LANCE
Oh, well, what can you do.
MEEK
Can I help you Lance?
 LANCE
Yeah. About Gwen.
MEEK
Gwenevieve Hardcastle?
LANCE
She’s all upset. And well, she does work really hard. In fact, she’s a good worker.
MEEK
Cut backs. Nothing I can do.                 (Goes back to Palm Top)           Nothing I can do.
LANCE
(Very Confident)
You couldn’t just slip her a few days. I said you would. Mate to mate. You know.
MEEK looks up and studies LANCE.
LANCE
(Becoming uncomfortable)
Yeah?
MEEK
Is that your new Fairmont in the car-park.
4: EXT. DAY      OFFICE CAR-PARK
We see Lance and Meek [Meek is still at his desk fiddling with his palm top] but both are outside in the car-park next to a new Fairmont.
LANCE
(Full of pride)
Isn’t she a beaut.
MEEK
So you’ve paid off your mortgage?
5: EXT. DAY       LANCE’S HOUSE   
Lance and Meek [still at his desk and fiddling are outside a suburban house with the Fairmont in the drive]
LANCE
(Taking in the house with pride)
Nah, equity mate. Equity.
MEEK
All that and a father too.
LANCE turns to Meek, a little confused by this comment when from off we hear
DAUGHTER
           (O.S.)
Daddy.   
LANCE turns to the daughter, who smiling, is running down the drive and into his arms.
MEEK
One isn’t it?
Lance’s wife joins them, kissing him on his cheek with love.
LANCE
(To his wife)
And one on the way.
LANCE and his wife look down to her full belly.
6: INT. DAY   MEEK’S OFFICE
MEEK
You’re a blessed man . . . Lance.
LANCE, in the office, his wife and kid still around him, is more and more suspicious.
LANCE
Yeah . . . Thanks.
MEEK
It’d be a real shame if you suddenly lost your job?
LANCE and all his family look worried.
LANCE’S kid looks up to him, worried. He gives her his half-hearted cocky grin, then turns to his wife who is really worried.
MEEK
This day and age, a man with your office skills, might find it difficult finding another position in time to keep all he supports, together.  
LANCE and his family are all listening intently. Lance tries but can’t raise his trademark grin.
LANCE       
        Are you . . . sacking me?
MEEK
No. We couldn’t do that. It’d constitute an unlawful dismissal.

LANCE, and all his family relax.
MEEK           
Although there is the little matter of your Employment Contract. . . It’s up for renewal.  Were you aware of this?
LANCE and all his family go grim.


                   (CONT)
MEEK
I’ll have to recommend you. . . again. . . Seems to me a recommendation like that, that sees you keep so much, is worth something. . .Don’t you think?
We ZOOM IN on LANCE who after a moment gives a sad, worried little grin.
ZOOM IN on MEEK who is now fully concentrating on LANCE.
MEEK
Now . . . let me see . . . Oh I know . . .
MEEK sits back in his chair.
LANCE screws up his face as he tries to follow what’s going on. His family on the edge of the shot are also confused.
MEEK, with a deliberate action, pulls down his fly.
MEEK
So, what do you think . . . Lance?
LANCE looks stunned, he turns to his wife and kids and after a beat his wife shrugs as if saying, ‘Well, he’s got a point.’
MEEK, in the same slow deliberate action turns sideways his eyes on LANCE and assured.
MEEK
You better hurry mate. I’ve got a meeting at TWO.
LANCE looks to the clock on the wall.
The clock says 1.50pm. -
7: INT. EVENING:  LANCE’S LIVING ROOM
LANCE is now home and sitting in the middle of his sofa. Before him playing the play station are his two kids, next to him his wife, half asleep and happy, perplexed, he turns to the window and sees the car outside , parked and waiting and new.
He turns back to the kids and both have turned to look at him and are giving him the same shrug.
8: INT. DAY: MEEK’S OFFFICE
MEEK is waiting.
MEEK
Well . . . Smiley.
LANCE’S family move away from him. Looking grave, and trapped, we can see LANCE thinking, then with the weakest grin yet bows his head.
9: INT. DAY      MEEK’S OFFICE
MEEK is watching with intense interest as a troubled LANCE gets on his knees before him.
LANCE leans forward and whispers:
LANCE
But I’m not gay.
MEEK
Funny, neither am I.

LANCE takes one last look at his family, who grimacing still urge him on, then bends down, grimacing himself, and almost in tears, to do the job.
MEEK’S palm suddenly slaps LANCE’S forehead and shoves him back.
LANCE looks up in shock.
MEEK pulls up his fly, gives LANCE a demeaning grin then turns back to his palm top and says:
MEEK
Get back to work.
(MORE)
 
(CONT'D)

LANCE, on his knees, and holding his forehead turns to the office where his family has now gone.
9: INT. DAY: THE MAIN OFFICE.
The crying girl from the opening shot notices the shaken LANCE, leave MEEK’S office, and full of hope rushes up to him.
GIRL
Well, what did he say? Did you fix me?
(beat)

LANCE turns to her from his shock.
LANCE
Babe . . . Blow me.
LANCE then walks towards us, still in shock, his life in tatters, as over his shoulder we see the girl watching him go, her face utterly confused.
THE END

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