HW PART 2 SHORT SCREENPLAY THE PRICE OF ROMANCE.

HW Part 2 Short Screen Play "The Price Of Romance"

 

 

The Price of Romance

By

Rachel McAdam

Rachel.M@talktalk.net

INT. SCANNER’S POV, CHECKOUT - DAY

Black.

Sugary background music. Small grunts of effort. The squeak

of technology being installed.

MIKE (O.S.)

And don’t say I never give you

anything.

TINA (26) sweet cheerful shop assistant, plants a loud

giggly kiss and -

Light seeps into SCANNER - so much more than a mere reader

of bar-codes. Scanner sees retreating lips and a red

lip-print on his lens. Tina mists it with a spray and wipes

him gently with a cloth.

Scanner’s vision clears. Tina appears above him framed by

Valentine balloons. Scanner’s shutter begins a long sigh -

MIKE (30s) senior assistant, edges into view.

MIKE

You didn’t have to kiss it to turn

it on.

TINA

Worked though didn’t it?

Mike’s footsteps retreat. Tina’s saucy grin turns wistful.

She leans her ample chest forward. Scanner’s shutter bar

sounds a wolf whistle. Tina’s arms rise in surprise.

The shadow of a shopping basket passes over Scanner. Tina

calms and serves up a smile. She runs the Customer’s grocery

items over the lens.

TINA (CONT’D)

Enter your pin in now...Thanks.

MIKE (O.S.)

(via tannoy)

We have a number of Valentine gifts

available in store -

Tina forms an apologetic smile as she passes the receipt and

the card to the customer.

She rests her elbows either side of the Scanner bed, staring

into the middle distance. Her hands appear above Scanner as

if in prayer.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

A pixellated heart forms on his screen - expands and bursts.

She misses it. Scanner scrolls through an array of codes,

getting faster and faster until -

A bunch of roses, plus price detail, SUPERIMPOSES in front

of his view of Tina. Scanner beeps.

TINA

Whoa. What’s happening?...Mike?

Mike comes into view. Tina points towards the cash register.

TINA (CONT’D)

Look - but there’s no flowers.

MIKE

That a hint?

He holds her gaze for a beat, breaking before real

commitment - to Tina’s slight frustration.

Scanner zooms through codes at lightening speed and selects:

SUPER: A box of chocolates - beep - SUPER: A soppy

Valentine’s day card - beep.

TINA

There, look. How, how are you doing

that?

MIKE

What makes you think it’s me?

Pixillated hearts dance on Scanner’s screen.

Mike peers into Scanner’s lens.

Scanner sends out a huge white smoky flash.

Mike squirms in blinking agony. Tina pulls him to her chest.

TINA

Shit, are you alright?

Red mist clouds Scanner’s screen. Mike sinks his head into

Tina’s embrace with a satisfied smile.

Mike gives Scanner a smug wink and lifts up a pointy finger

- it nears.

A switch clicks off.

Black.