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“The Call” By Hani Based on screenplay By Hani Story by Ah Fatt REVISED FINAL OCTOBER, 2009 “Just because somebody doesn’t love you the way you want them to, doesn’t mean that they don’t love you with everything they got.”
Berlinda Cavazos "The Call"
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INT. HOUSE-FRONT DOOR-DUSK Black Screens. A cell phone makes a long vibration sound. Fade in. Anna takes out the cell phone and sees the screen with a lot of miscalls and 1 voice mail. Anna hesitate weather to accept or delete the voice mail as the thumb lingering on both buttons. Black Cuts. INT. HOUSE-DUSK Cell phone voice mail beeps. Fade in. A table with a calendar marked on 18 November and crossed on 14 November and also previous dates. Next to it a picture frames with a husband, wife and child smiling happily. Cell phone (Mom) (Worried) Anna, where have you been? I tried to call you a dozen times already. (Sigh) You finally found a job. You would’ve made your father proud. I... am proud of you too. Just please come home soon okay. (A long pause) You are everything to me. Showing more picture frames after the 1st one. Where the next picture is lacking of the father and the woman and child doesn’t look too happy anymore. Mom, dressed in a sarong with worn out t-shirt, coming down the stairs. Then the door opens revealing Anna in a suit work clothes. The door is left open.
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Anna sits down on the armchair. Mom is asking about something. Anna is annoyed and answers mom. Mom gets angry and scolds Anna. Anna is frowning and she gets up from the chair and dashes upstairs to her room. 2 DAYS LATER INT. HOUSE-DUSK Fade in. A table with a calendar marked on 18 November and crossed on 16 November and also previous dates. Next to it a picture frames with a husband, wife and child smiling happily. Then the door opens revealing Anna in a different suit work clothes. Mom, dressed in a sarong with worn out t-shirt, coming out from the kitchen. The door is left open. Mom How was the interview? Did you get employed Anna? Anna (Irritated) Not yet Mom. Anna takes off her coat and bag and put them on the coffee table. Anna sits down on an armchair exhausted.
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Mom (cont’d) (Annoyed) What do you mean not yet? How many months already and you still haven’t got any job yet Anna? This is all because you didn’t listen to me. I told you to study and get good grades so you can get a job easier! Anna stands up and snapped. Anna (Angry) Could you please don’t bring that topic up Mom? I’m sick and tired of your lecturing me ever since I was a child! Can’t do this! Can’t do that! If you didn’t pressure me like that I would have been doing fine! Mom (Angry) How dare you talk to your mother like that! That is my way of teaching you! You could barely pass you exams if it weren’t for me who pushed you! Anna (Sarcastic and shouting) Oh by punishing me for every mistake that I did, is that what you called teaching? You’ve become like this ever since Dad died! Mom slaps hard on Anna’s left cheek. Mom and Anna are glaring at each other. Anna takes her bag and storm out while slamming the door shut.
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2 DAYS LATER EXT. SUNWAY PYRAMID-BUS STOP-AFTERNOON Busy street, people are crossing roads. Working people are eating lunch. Anna is wearing work clothes, waiting at a bus stop. Suddenly Anna’s phone rings and she picks it up. Carol (Excited) Hey Anna, Happy Birthday girl! Anna (Happy) Aww… Carol thanks a lot! Anyway, guess what? Carol (Curious) What? Tell me. Did your mom lecture you again? Mom, dressed in a sarong with worn out t-shirt, comes to the door and hesitates to open it when she heard Carol’s conversation. Anna (Excited) Not that silly! I finally got a job! Carol (Happy) Congratulations Anna! Have you told your mom yet?
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Anna (cont’d) (Hesitation) Um… No, but I will tell her soon. I bet my mom wants me out of the house as as bad as I do too. Anyway I can’t wait to start working and get out of that house. Carol (Awkward) Um… okay, so this means celebration! You’re coming to my house later right? Anna (Exaggerating) Of course, how can I not come? After all, it’s like a new beginning for me! I can’t even wait for tonight! Okay I see you guys later. My friend is here to pick me up. Bye. A car horns at her. Anna walks towards the car and get into it. Anna looks at the window and touches her left cheek. Flash back of the slapping incident. Anna has a lingering look on her face.
INT. HOUSE-FRONT DOOR-AFTERNOON Carol dressed in a party dress, hangs up on cell phone. Mom suddenly opens the door.
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Mom (cont’d) (Curious) Carol? Was that Anna on the phone? Carol (Awkward) err… yeah… Mom So what did she said? Carol (Awkward) Um… Anna said she got employed. A short pause Mom (Glad and disappointed at the same time) Oh I see… that’s good. Carol (Awkward) I’m sorry for coming here to look for Anna. I’ll be on my way then. Mom stays at the front door and sees Carol off. Mom has a sad smile on her face.
INT. HOUSE-EVENING Showing the house’s surrounding. Mom is pacing around while calling on the phone. Not picking up tone.
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INT. CAROL’S HOUSE-EVENING People are partying, dancing with loud music. Guests are eating food, enjoying, and brings out a cake. Anna is wearing a party hat holding a cake knife. Anna blows the candles and cut the cake. People are singing and cheering. Cell phone is ringing in Anna’s bag. Anna put down her cake and takes out her cell phone. The caller is mom. Anna grunts and silent’s her cell phone then put it back inside her bag. INT. HOUSE-EVENING Mom is still pacing around while calling on the phone. Not picking up tone. Mom (Worried) As always, Anna never picks up her phone. Maybe she’s at Carol’s house. Mom walks out of the house and get on to her motorcycle. Mom is starting it and drives away. INT. CAROL’S HOUSE-EVENING People are partying, dancing with loud music. Anna and Carol are sitting on a couch. Carol (Worried) Hey Anna, did you tell your mom that you’re here?
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Anna (cont’d) (Annoyed) No, I’m not planning to go back home anytime soon. It’s not like my mom will do something special for me at home.
EXT. ROAD-DUSK Loud sounds came from a motorcycle engine. Not busy roads. Mom is riding a motorcycle with one hand calling on a cell phone. An engine car sounds speeding on the road. Mom is still riding motorcycle with one hand calling on a cell phone. On a junction, a car turns and bright head lights flash bright on Mom’s face. Loud tires are screeching. Mom gets hit by the car. Motorcycle is over turn and the tire spins. Mom’s hand is bleeding holding a cell phone. A helmet is on its side. Sounds of ambulance could be heard.
INT. CAROL’S HOUSE-EVENING People are partying, dancing with loud music. There is a faint sound of an ambulance siren. Anna suddenly shows uneasiness and got up from the couch. Carol approaches and touches her arm. Carol (Worried) Are you okay Anna?
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Anna (cont’d) (Bothering) Huh? Yeah Anna turns to look at the clock that shows 8pm. The clock spins faster. INT. HOUSE-NIGHT A phone stand on a table with a calendar crossed and marked on 18 November. Next to it a picture frame with a husband, wife and child smile happily. Anna opens the front door, wind blows slightly on her face. Anna stops when her cell phone makes a vibration sound. Anna takes out her cell phone and sees the screen with a lot of miscalls and 1 voice mail. Anna hesitates whether to accept or delete the voice mail as her thumb lingers on both buttons. Then Anna pushes on the voice mail on her cell phone. A long beeping sounds. Anna put down her bag on the coffee table and she went to the dining table to get some water but she found a box cake. Cell phone (Mom) (Worried) Anna, where have you been? I tried to call you a dozen times already. (Sigh) You finally found a job. You would’ve made your father proud. I… am proud of you too. Just please come home soon okay. (A long pause) You are everything to me.
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Anna trembles when she sees the box cake. Anna opens the box and sees the cake inside with a congratulation and happy birthday written on the cake. Anna grabs back her cell phone and calls her mom but only to receive non-existing number respond. So Anna wait till late night for mom to come back home. Anna is sitting from one place to another. Anna keeps staring at her cell phone. After a long wait, a call broke the silence and Anna quickly picks it up. Anna (Urgent) Hello? Black Cut. Tagline fades in. “Just because somebody doesn’t love you the way you want them to, doesn’t mean that they don’t love you with everything they got.”
THE END