TV Script – Spoken word – By @Aaron_Furman1
By Aaron Furman
TV Script – Spoken word
Like most recent graduates I was unemployed. Well, technically I was just fired from a pub. Outrageous I know but hysterical at the same time. The official reason was my inability to pour a sufficient pint.
Bollocks.
In all honestly, the manager didn’t take to me and we clashed.
I did wrangle another job after but that’t is a story for another time. Trust me, their is a tale to be told.
However, this one is about what I created in my “sabbatical”. Like most creative people, I can’t sit still and I used this unexpected time to birth a project I’ve always had in mind.
I wrote a 52 page TV script.
It’s loosely based on my life. I would call it a mix between Master of None and Skins. Not really though.
Elevator pitch: A young guy is forced to deal with mature emotions and finds the only way he can express himself is through spoken word poetry.
It’s much much more.
Below is a small snippet of the script. Let me know what you think.
7 INT. WAREHOUSE CLUB. NIGHT.
We see TOM in the middle dance floor. Waves of people, strobes, and lasers surround him. TOM has his eyes closed, fuelled by drugs and alcohol, he is in a state of artificial bliss. He soon comes down and is grounded back in his reality.
He turns to JB. He shouts over the music.
TOM
I’m going out for a smoke.
JB
I can’t hear you mate.
TOM
I’ll be outside.
JB
Okay, we’ll be around here.
8 EXT. SMOKING AREA. NIGHT. CONT.
TOM walks out into the smoking area. He gets out a cigarette and lights it. A girl walks up to him. (Around the same age, alternatively dressed, has an aura of confidence and an mysterious intrigue about her). Imagine a younger version of Uma Thurman type character from pulp fiction.
OPAL
Can I borrow a light?
TOM passes his lighter to OPAL. She lights her cigarette.
TOM
Sorry but your face looks awfully familiar to me.
OPAL
Why are you sorry?
TOM
I don’t know. It’s just something you say to someone. A common phrase, I’ve never really thought about it.
OPAL
Well?
TOM
Well, what?
OPAL
Where do you know me from?
TOM
I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it. What’s your name?
OPAL
OPAL.
TOM
I’m TOM. It’s a pleasure.
OPAL
Why is it a pleasure?
TOM
I don’t know. Again it’s something we just say, I guess.
OPAL
For all you know I could be an absolute bitch. Who uses her feminine charm/femininity to seduce guys into, let us say, compromising situations.
TOM
Why? Are you propositioning yourself?
OPAL
Don’t men think about sex all the time? If a man attracts lots of girls, he’s called a stud. But if a woman attracts guys, she’s a slut. Or if a woman is assertive she’s bossy but a man would be seen as
(USES AIR QUOTES)
“leadership material”. So, why can’t women be propositioning?
TOM
You’re right. Double standards exist because women have been put on a pedestal by society. Anything that goes against this facade scares men too much. Well the insecure ones that is. The ones with muscles as big as their egos.
OPAL
So you’re insinuating that’s not you.
TOM
Well, I clearly don’t have big muscles. The rest is your judgment really.
OPAL
How curious.
TOM
What’s so curious?
OPAL takes her last inhale and stubs out the cigarette with her foot.
OPAL
You are.
TOM
I’ll take that as a compliment.
OPAL starts to walk off. TOM is baffled, bewildered and intrigued.
TOM
Wait.
OPAL stops. You can see a small smile before she turns back around.
TOM
Don’t try and pinch my lighter.
OPAL
Caught me.
TOM
All that talk about equality.
OPAL
I don’t think a lighter represents gender equality but here, let me make it up to you. Give me your phone.
TOM takes out his phone.
TOM
You aren’t going to try and steal it, are you?
OPAL takes it from his hands.
OPAL
A little trust goes a long way.
TOM
Rich coming from you.
OPAL puts her number in his contacts and gives the phone back.
OPAL
Well if you want to continue our debate you know how to reach me.
TOM
But do you not want to…
OPAL
No
TOM
You don’t know what I was about to say.
OPAL
I could guess. I’ll see you around.
OPAL walks off.
TOM
Damn! That should’ve been my line.
TOM smiles and shakes his head.