I'm Moving Out Draft 2

I'M MOVING OUT

Written by Rowen Smith

Project S

29 Belle Ombre Road Tamboerskloof Western Cape 8001 +27(0)79 647 0077 rowen.work@gmail.com WGSA Membership nr: F2015200111

DRAFT 2 20/02/2015

FADE IN: 1

INT. WOODSTOCK APARTMENT - DUSK

1

In a modern two bedroom apartment, like a Chicago harbor side loft we find NICK(28), a typical Cape Town artsy guy, on the sofa sending emails with his macbook.

The front door opens and CAREN (27), a petite blonde in her waitress uniform, rushes directly to the kitchen.

NICK Babe is that you?

Caren pours herself some coffee after a long day’s work.

CAREN oh my god Nick, Why aren't you dressed yet honey? Sarah and Matt are arriving any minute now.

NICK Hello to you too.

Caren walks to the bedroom, undresses to take a shower.

CAREN Hi.(beat) Don't you just wanna get the mail while I take a shower.

NICK I'm kind of busy right now.

Caren leans against the bedroom doorway, quite frustrated.

CAREN with? Probably on facebook.

NICK common Caren. I use facebook for networking you know that?

CAREN you don't need to network right now.

We have dinner plans. Please, just go get the mail.

2

INT. APARTMENT BLOCK/PASSAGE WAY - LATER Nick walks out into the passageway but is stopped by a little Jack Russel dog, looking directly at him.

NICK (to the dog) Where did you come from little guy?

2

2.

The dog does nothing.

NICK (CONT’D) Out of my way. Common. Scoot.

Nick opens the Mailbox, takes the letters and walks back to the apartment. The dog always a few steps behind him.

3

INT. BEDROOM - LATER

3

Nick enters, mail in hand. Caren is in the shower.

NICK Babe, I got some good news, some bad news and then...well...there's a dog outside, he's kind of following me around.

4

INT. SHOWER - CONTINUOUS

4

CAREN A dog? What dog?

She grabs a towel and gets out.

5

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS Caren finds Nick holding the dog in his arms.

NICK This little guy.

CAREN (not that impressed) Where did he come from?

Caren walks to her wardrobe.

NICK I don’t know. Isn't he cute.

CAREN He's not ours and he probably has some street carrying illness.

NICK (to the dog) She didn't mean that.

Caren throws on a dress.

CAREN Just get him out of here please.

5

3.

Nick does as he is told.

NICK (to Caren) We got mail. It's on the bed.

Caren finds the letter.

6

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

6

Nick is looking for something the dog can eat and Caren steps into the room opening the letter.

CAREN This letter is from the landlord. (beat) No. Not This. Not now. Nick. Nick.

Nick found milk & cookies and is looking for a bowl.

NICK What babe?

CAREN Just let the dog eat. We need to talk.

Nick feeds the dog and hops on the coach.

CAREN (CONT’D) There's something I think you should know.

NICK This sounds bad. Is it bad. I hope its not bad...

Caren says nothing.

NICK (CONT’D) ...Are we playing charade's here or what? just tell me already.

CAREN We gotta renew our lease next week.

NICK And. So let's renew the lease then.

Caren takes a long and deep breath and looks him in the eye.

CAREN Nick. I'm moving out.

NICK WHAT?

4.

The dog lift his head with a WOOF. Suddenly, we hear KNOCKING on the front door. hold on Nick's expression. Shocked. Caren gets up and opens the door to MATT and SARAH, a couple in their mid-twenties. Matt has flowers.

MATT Hey guys. Caren, looking lovely. And this is for you. (gives her the Flowers)

SARAH Hey girl.

CAREN You're just in time.

SARAH Luke and Christy couldn't show. They had some kind of an argument.

CAREN As always. Come in.

Matt and Sarah make themselves at home. Caren pretends that nothing is wrong, while Nick is still seated on the coach.

We ZOOM in on his deadpanned reaction.

TITLE CARD: I’m Moving Out. OPENING SEQUENCE: We open on a series of photographic stills from on Cape Town City; landscapes, construction sites, arts and culture, the people, to URBAN R&B. (JayZ-Dead Priests II) #SHOTS of Nick and Caren waking up, getting ready, Nick on Facebook with a coffee, Caren working at Origin coffee co.

7

EXT. CORPORATE ROOFTOP - DAY (OR CAPE TOWN CITY STREETS) Nick and Matt are on the roof of a Corporate Office.

MATT Well that came out of nowhere NICK You're telling me..

MATT So what's the plan now?

NICK I don't know. I have find a new place to live I guess.

MATT ...in this town. Its a pretty impossible.

7

5.

Nick looks at Matt with some kind of puppy eyed look.

MATT (CONT’D) Don't look at me like that NICK Common man, just let me crash at your place for a while until I figure this out.

MATT Ha-ha. like that’s gonna happen.

Matt isn't interested, and reads messages from his phone.

NICK Common. I'm kind of stuck here.

Matt looks up.

MATT You're over analyzing this. You're always over analyzing things. Act like it's not even a big deal. She'll change her mind. Girls don't know what they think sometimes.

NICK I guess you're right.

MATT I'm always right. That's why I live alone in my very own sea point loft and that's why I have the hottest girl in the city.

Matt lifts his cup for a toast, quite proud of his statement.

MATT (CONT’D) Trust me. Girls want to be told what they want. So play it cool and wait for her to give in. They always do.

8

INT. WOODSTOCK APARTMENT/BEDROOM - NIGHT Caren packs clothes bags, frustrated, not knowing where to start. Nick comes home with Pizza’s and beer.

NICK Honey, I'm home.

WOOF WOOF, the dog follows him in.

NICK (CONT’D) I can't seem to get rig of this dog.

I think he belongs to the landlord.

8

6.

CAREN I'm in here.

Nick walks into the bedroom and is quite thrown back when seeing Caren packing her things.

NICK Wow, this happened fast.

CAREN I gotta do this now, I've got too many double shifts this month.

NICK So you're really thinking of going through with this?

CAREN Don't make this more complicated that it already is please.

Nick enters the livingroom and puts the pizza and beer down on the kitchen counter.

NICK I got us pizza and a few cold ones. I think you need a break(beat) and a beer.

He cracks open two beers. Caren takes the beer from him.

CAREN Thanks.

Nick puts his arm around her with a positive presence.

NICK I was thinking. This is obviously your decision and you know I will support whatever you choose to do so...

CAREN So? NICK So why don't we just play it cool for now.

CAREN This is not like you.

NICK I know, I know, but I'm always over thinking things and right know I think it's best to take things as they come. you know..

7.

CAREN Okay, and what does that mean?

NICK It means, you need a new place to stay and we gotta turn this place upside down. Ya feel me?

CAREN Yeah. I feel ya (a little giggle) NICK (to the dog) And you little guy, do you feel me?

WOOF WOOF, barks the dog.

They toast and drink their beer.

9

PLAYING IT COOL MONTAGE

9

A) Nick and Caren searching for apartments on Gumtree.

B) Nick and Caren go for apartment viewings.

C) Nick helps Caren to Pack D) Nick and Caren move furniture around in the apartment. The dog sits on the boxes observing them.

10

INT. WOODSTOCK APARTMENT - SUNSET LICK LICK LICK - the dog drinks milk from his bowl.

The apartment is all cleared up, everything in boxes. Nick and Caren sit on the floor, watching the clouds moving over the Table Mountain.

NICK That's the last of it.

Nick see’s an old film camera on a bookshelf. He gets up to get it.

NICK (CONT’D) I think this is still yours.

CAREN Oh yeah. You got me that when we first moved in.

Nick opens the camera and finds the film roll inside.

10

8.

NICK We never developed these. We took so many back then.

CAREN didn't we take some naughty pictures once.

NICK those were the days.

Nick sits on the kitchen counter. Caren joins him, resting her head on his chest. They look at the negatives.

NICK (CONT’D) Look at that one. Are you naked there? I'm keeping this.

CAREN We had so many memories here.

It's quiet for a while, we hear the dog drinking his milk.

NICK Stevie will keep me company I guess.

CAREN Stevie?

NICK the dog, I named him Stevie. After Wonder CAREN Good name.

NICK yeah he's always wondering around. It kind of suits his character.

Caren leans in for a kiss or two on Nick's cheek.

NICK (CONT’D) (nick) do you want to?

CAREN Yeah NICK Like, right now?

CAREN Uh-huh Nick puts the film reel back into the camera, it jamms.

9.

NICK (to himself) not now, not now.

Caren gets on top of him.

CAREN Let's not film our last time okay.

NICK wait what?

CAREN Just..just forget about it. just kiss me.

NICK what do you mean our last time?

Caren tries to avoid it and keeps kissing.

NICK (CONT’D) You wanted to move out didn’t you.

CAREN Nick common.

Nick walks into the open livingroom space. Caren moves into a seated position on the kitchen counter.

NICK Why didn't you just spare me the effort and tell me from the start.

CAREN You're over analyzing this. It's not a big deal.

NICK Of course its a big deal. You're moving out because you don't want to live with me, and situations like this always lead to couples breaking up.

CAREN Oh common be real for once. We were on a downward spiral, or were you too blind to notice?

NICK Notice what? I'm working my ass off to maintain this place. We both are, how am I supposed to notice you planning to break up with me.

10.

CAREN Who are you kidding. your sitting your ass, facebooking, while I clean tables and serve pretentious cape Townians all day.

NICK What does facebook have to do with anything?

CAREN you think I don't see your status updates every ten minutes NICK oh-OH, and how do you seem to know that I'm on facebook. It's because you're on facebook too. That's right.

Caught you red handed missy.

CAREN You’re making a big deal out of nothing.

NICK Nothing? This isn't nothing Caren.

This is our apartment, our life.

CAREN Well now it's yours.

And on that note we hear a sudden KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK on the front door and a WOOF WOOF from the dog. For a moment they just stand there, looking at one another, then Nick opens the front door, to Matt and Sarah.

MATT Guess who brought wine..Me. SARAH wow look how empty this place is.

NICK hey guys.

MATT let’s rock n roll!

11

MOVING OUT MONTAGE The four friends moving everything out of the apartment. a)Nick and Matt walk with boxes down the stairs b)Nick and Matt loading furniture onto Matt's VAN.

11

11.

c) Sarah and Caren are drinking wine while packing d) Sarah and Caren drive off furniture on the roof. e) Matt and Nick watch them go f) the dog sitting in the empty flat.

12

INT. WOODSTOCK APARTMENT - THE NEXT DAY

12

A series of cutaways of the empty apartment. Nails against the call, dusty windowpanes, open cupboards.

13

EXT. WOODSTOCK APARTMENT - AFTERNOON Nick waits outside the apartment entrance. Caren is dropped of by Sarah. Nick and Sarah greet vaguely.

NICK (to Caren) Hi CAREN Where's the landlord.

NICK Who knows.

We follow Nick and Caren up two circle staircases and into the apartment, admiring it’s emptiness.

NICK (CONT’D) So I guess this is it.

CAREN Yeah.

NICK Do you bring your set of keys?

CAREN uhm yeah, it's in my purse somewhere.

Caren checks her purse. Its quite awkward between them. The emotional tension is the room is strong, and sad.

Caren breaks the ice.

CAREN (CONT’D) I think I'm just going to see check the bathroom, just one last time.

Nick remains in the living room and sits on new 5 litre, paint bucket. The moment gets emotional.

13

12.

14

SAD MONTAGE

14

1. Caren looks at herself in the mirror.

2. Nick feels the emptiness of the room, wiping eyes.

3. Caren looks in purse and takes out the keys.

NICK Caren.

Caren is crying, but not showing.

NICK (CONT’D) I got you a little going away present.

Caren enters the livingroom again. Nick hold up a batch of photos from their film camera.

CAREN our photos...

NICK I had them developed.

CAREN Nick.

NICK I guess they will remind you of the times we share in this place.

Caren smiles her tears away. Nick puts the photos on the counter.

HOOT HOOT. Nick walks over the livingroom window and looks out at Sarah hooting at them from the street.

NICK (CONT’D) Can't keep her waiting.

CAREN I found the keys.

Caren puts the keys on the kitchen counter.

CAREN (CONT’D) I dont.(beat) I dont want to move out. I don't want to move out. I made a mistake.

NICK We all make mistakes.

Another HOOT HOOT from Sarah outside.

13.

CAREN I also don't want to live with her.

NICK I can’t blame you.

Nick walks to Caren and lifts her chin.

NICK (CONT’D) (sincerely-joking) Nobody at work wants to move in with me because I’m always “over analyzing things”...

Caren smiles.

CAREN (softly) Nick what are you saying..

We slowly ZOOM IN on a Profile 2-SHOT of Nick and Caren with the scenic Table Mountain visible from their main window.

They look into each other's eyes.

NICK Do you want to move in?

They kiss, and on that note we hear a WOOF WOOF, from Stevie the dog.

CUT TO BLACK.