 |
 |
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
|
||||||||
Confessions of an
11-year-old Screenwriter
EXT. MINI MALL- DAY- CONTINUOUS
We see Jen run out of the hardware store and into the post office next door.
INT. POST OFFICE-DAY- CONTINUOUS
A few EMPLOYEES watch curiously as Jen selects a pack of huge manila envelopes and goes to the front counter.
JEN
I’d like a book of stamps, please.
The clerk produces a book of stamps and rings up the items.
ADULT JEN (V.O.)
I had no idea where to send it. I called the local network affiliates to beg for an address.
INT. JOHANS KITCHEN- DAY
Jen cradles a phone between her shoulder and ear and sits at the kitchen table, watching snow fall out the window.
JEN
What do I want to send Jerry Seinfeld?
ADULT JEN (V.O.)
They were hesitant, to say the least.
JEN
Um, I have some stuff. (Beat) A letter. (Beat) Yeah, I’m a fan. I’d like to get his autograph.
ADULT JEN (V.O.)
Okay, so I lied.
Jen writes down an address on the envelope and stuffs the script inside. She hangs up the phone.
ADULT JEN (V.O.)
(Con’t)
Now I just needed a cover letter. My mom had recommended a good cover letter and resume writing book from the library but it was too dull. I needed to stand out, and at this point, I got a little impatient.
INT. COMPUTER ROOM- DAY- CONTINUOUS
CU of the printer as the ink on the letter dries. The letter reads, “Dear Mr. Larry David and Mr. Jerry Seinfeld. Hi, I’m eleven and I love your show. I wrote this script. Please read it.”
EXT. JOHANS HOME- MORNING
Jen puts the manila envelope in the mailbox and runs down the street towards the school bus.
EXT. STREET- AFTERNOON
Jen steps off the bus and runs down the street to the waiting mailbox but finds it empty.
EXT. STREET- AFTERNOON
Insert Card: The Next Afternoon
Jen steps off the bus again and runs down the street. The mailbox is once again empty.
INT. MAILBOX- AFTERNOON
Insert Card: The Afternoon After That
The metal door on the mailbox opens and JEN’s face appears as her expression brightens for a moment, and then sours.
INT. COMPUTER ROOM- DAY
Jen sits at her computer and on the screen types, “COACH.”
ADULT JEN (V.O.)
I decided to stop running to the mailbox everyday. I had to be realistic. I knew it would take awhile. I decided to try writing a few of my other favorite shows like “Coach,” “Full House,” and “Saturday Night Live.”
EXT. JOHANS HOME- DAY
Jen puts three manila envelopes into her mailbox and runs down the street in the snow towards the bus.
EXT. JOHANS HOME- DAY
The weather has changed and time has passed—it’s summer and the sun is shining brightly as Jen shoots hoops on her driveway with her brother. She watches the mailman out of the corner of her eye as he places a large envelope in her mailbox. She passes the ball to her brother and heads for it.