SCREENPLAY FINAL DRAFT

 

 

 

 

*TITLE*

 

By Olivia Thomas

 

 

OPEN ON -

INT. ART STUDIO

 

Wide shot.

Mounted on a white wall is an abstract, colourful painting.

The gallery is sunlit. It is daytime and there is a sense of warmth and intimacy.

A series of 3 close ups, emulating the human eye, display work in the gallery 

 

The camera dollies backwards (still in WS). We can make out a female figure (our protagonist – AVA). She is observing the images.

 

MCU of AVA’S face – she is deep in thought. Behind her, a male figure walks into frame from the right (SONNY). He stops being her and mimicks her facial expression.

 

Over the should POV shot – POV of the male figure. Shaky, hand-held camera. AVA turns around and gives him a small smile. Light is brighter.

 

MS of SONNY. From the POV of AVA

 

Return to over-the-shoulder POV shot.

 

MID SHOT – camera is placed in profile. We are observing AVA as if she is on the side of a coin. SONNY walks forward, he is now standing next to AVA.

 

SONNY

‘They’re beautiful, aren’t they?’

 

AVA smiles. But her eyes remain on what is in front of her.

 

SONNY

‘Sonny.’

 

AVA turns her head to look at him.

 

‘It’s nice to meet you’ – He holds out his hand for her to shake.

 

 

AVA

(Takes his hand). ‘Ava.’

 

CUT TO BLACK – OPENING TITLES.

 

 

CUT FROM TITLES TO -

EXT. COFFEE SHOP. DAY

 

Camera pans (park setting). It centres on AVA and SONNY, who are sitting outside of a café in a park. They are having a conversation; we can hear AVA laughing. They are sitting across from each other at a picnic bench.

It is cold. They are wearing coats and scarves.

Camera cuts and moves in on them (still WS but closer).

 

SONNY

‘… And I’ve always liked abstract art… the way it evokes emotions without relying on realism is…’

 

AVA

‘… mesmerising?’

 

SONNY

‘That’s the word.’

 

AVA laughs softly.

 

WAITRESS, a young woman, probably in her early twenties, approaches the table. She is wearing an outfit typical of a waitress (apron, black jeans, white shirt).

 

WAITRESS

‘Can I get you guys any drinks?’

 

The camera is directed from SONNY’S POV, but his gaze remains on AVA. Camera is shaky, hand-held. The WAITRESS is faceless.

 

 

AVA

(Looks at the waitress.) ‘Just a latte please.’

 

Camera cuts to SONNY – he remains watching AVA.

 

SONNY

(Condescendingly) ‘Coffee. Black.’

 

Camera cuts back to AVA from SONNY’S POV

 

WAITRESS
‘That’s all?’

 

Silence. Ava nods.

 

‘… Thanks.’

 

The WAITRESS walks away. Camera pans – SONNY’S eyes follow her. We watch her walk away. Slight zoom. Camera is shaky.

 

MCU of SONNY – he is looking off camera (POV of AVA).

 

Back to shot from the POV of SONNY.

SONNY

(Under his breath) yeah… that’s all)

 

Camera pans back to AVA.

 

WIDE SHOT – framing is oppositional. Sense of tension between SONNY and AVA.

 

CROSS FADE to next sequence.

 

CROSS FADE FROM COFFEE SHOP TO –

INT. AVA’S SITTING ROOM – DUSK.

 

 

WIDE SHOT – shaky camera. Camera observing AVA from across the room – she is working at a desk. Painting. Sound of the radio plays in the background.

 

Camera cuts to MCU of AVA, painting.

 

MS of Sonny – he throws a pillow at her. (In a funny, sweet way. Not violent!)

 

Cut back to AVA – MCU. 

 

AVA

‘Stop distracting me.’ (Smiling and laughing softly)

 

Sonny

‘You look nice… come sit with me.’

 

AVA laughs and shakes her head.

 

Low Angle MS of AVA working at her desk – over the shoulder to an extent. Illuminated by a desk lamp.

SONNY approaches – tall and imposing, he leans over her. We cannot actually see him, but we see him through his shadow. 

 

Low angle shot – POV of AVA – looking up at SONNY. His demeanour is tense and expression hostile. 

 

 

Low Angle shot of AVA.

 

AVA

‘What?’

 

Pause.

 

‘Sonny, are you okay?’

 

SONNY
‘I told you to come and sit.’

 

He knocks the pot of paint water on to her work. Camera is positioned at desk level. Water floods a close to camera.’

 

AVA

‘What are you doing?’ (Fearful)

 

SONNY grabs her shoulder. CU of shoulder. Cuts to CU of AVA’s eyes – tears well. CU of water on the desk. CU of AVA’S face

 

‘Stop it.’ (Helplessly) ‘Please.’

 

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE FROM BLACK TO –

INT. AVA’S BEDROOM. DAY.

 

POV of AVA. Blurry. We can make out her future sitting in front of the mirror. We see her through the mirror. Camera jolts slightly. Desaturated. We have lost all colour. 

 

VOICEOVER (we are in the head of AVA) – throughout this camera remains blurry and jolty.

 

SONNY

‘Don’t wear that.’

 

AVA

(Quietly) ‘Please, stop.’

 

SONNY

‘Why are you being so childish?’

 

‘You’re embarrassing me.’

 

AVA

(Louder) ‘Stop.’

 

SONNY

‘I don’t care how you feel.’

 

‘You’re manipulative, Ava.’

 

AVA

(Weakly) ‘Why are you doing this to me?’

 

The blur fades. AVA looks broken - she is wearing baggy clothes and looks mentally and physically exhausted. She has a bruise on her forehead. She stares into the mirror, longingly. The colouring has completely changed, it is now grey, and the room is lit dimly. There is no more colour in her life. An empty piece of canvas paper lies before her. Her brush is on the floor. We get the impression that she has lost interest in her passions. 

 

CU of AVA’s face - we hear the door creak open. AVA moves her head to follow the sound – match on action.

 

POV of AVA – SONNY walks in. High angle shot.

 

Back to MS of AVA. Door slams shut. She clenches her jaw. Tension.

 

Mirror shot – SONNY standing tall and imposing behind her.

 

SONNY

‘You look like shit.’

 

Tears well in AVA’s eyes. She gives him a sad look.

 

SONNY

‘Well, don’t just sit there…’

 

AVA says nothing, she looks down.

 

SONNY

(Mutters under his breath as we see him leave) Women.

 

The door slams shut. This time AVA does not react.

 

Camera is positioned as the mirror. AVA looks into the camera as if it is the mirror. Breaks the fourth wall. She grabs her paintbrush and paper. 

Music fades in.

 

CUT TO -

 

 

 

CUT FROM BEDROOM TO –

INT. SITTING ROOM. MONTAGE…

 

Gentle guitar melody playing throughout the montage. She remains in her sitting room. As it progresses, the room gets more colourful and lighter.

 

CUT TO – INT. AVA’S SITTING ROOM. DAY.

 

WS – she opens the shutter.

MCU profile shot – looks out the window. Flinches by the light.

WS – she starts clearing away some of the mess that has accumulated in her sitting room. Throws SONNY’s belongings into a bag.

 

CUT TO - INT. AVA’S SITTING ROOM. DAY.

 

MS – she is painting at her desk. Camera tracks her paint lines.

CU of her phone – call incoming from SONNY.

She presses decline. 

 

CUT TO - INT. AVA’s SITTING ROOM. NIGHT

AVA and her friends are chatting and enjoying a glass of wine.

CU – call incoming from SONNY – she presses decline. She deletes his contact.

 

CUT TO - INT. AVA’S SITTING ROOM. DAY.

 

She is back at her desk. Adding details to a floral painting. Sketches are laid out all over the desk. Colour is coming back.

 

CUT TO - INT. AVA’S SITTING ROOM. DUSK.

 

WS - She is practising yoga.

 

CUT TO - INT. AVA’S SITTING ROOM. DAY.

 

She is painting (at this point, the walls are covered in artwork.)

Adding details to paintings.

 

CUT TO - INT. AVA’S SITTING ROOM. NIGHT.

 

Laughter with her FRIEND. 

They are having dinner and gossiping.

 

CUT TO - INT. AVA’S SITTING ROOM. NIGHT.

 

She takes a step back from what she has been working on. Camera is in WIDE SHOT – she takes a deep breath.

We do not see the finish product.

 

CROSS FADE TO –

 

FADE TO -

INT. ART GALLERY – DAY.

 

We are back in the art gallery. WS of AVA standing before her piece of art that she has been working on.

 

WS of the art.

The product is a series of paintings of flowers. Alive, dying and dead. It wants to show the destruction of women in a relationship. They are off centre to show room for another full bouquet of flowers.

 

Back to WS of AVA (shot reverse shot).

Her FRIEND comes into frame.  She hands her some flowers that are colourful and full of life.

CU of the flowers – they are the flowers that should be on a fourth canvas.

 

FRIEND

‘Hi’ (they hug.)

 

AVA

‘Thank you for coming.’

 

Her FRIEND hands her some flowers that are colourful and full of life.

CU of the flowers – they are the flowers that should be on a fourth canvas.

 

AVA

‘Thank you. They’re gorgeous.’

 

 

 

MS of AVA and her FRIEND – they put their arm around each other. Lighting is bright. They are looking at the art.

 

WS from behind them. Shaky camera.

 

WS from between the girls' shoulders. We can see SONNY at the back, coming into the gallery. He walks forward. 

 

WS – we can see all three of them face on.

 

FRIEND

‘I’m so proud of you, Av.’

 

SONNY

(At the same time) ‘Av?’

 

AVA turns around, recognising the voice.

 

SHOT REVERSE SHOT – SONNT and AVA looking at one another. 

CUT TO BLACK.

CLOSING TITLES. CREDITS