Short Screenplay: "Advice"

INT. DORM ROOM—NIGHT

WILL, nineteen years old, is alone in a small, messy, two-bed dorm room. He lies on his bed staring up at the ceiling.

Will sighs, then gets up into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. He takes his cell phone out of his pocket, dials a number, and holds the phone to his ear.

We hear what Will hears: The beep of a phone ringing, and then a slightly distorted voice on the other end of the connection.

HARRY

(V.O., on phone)

Hey, Will, what’s up?

WILL

Hey, man. I just have a kind of dilemma I want to talk to you about.

INT. STUDENT UNION—DAY

The tables of the student union are crowded with students eating, studying and talking. At one small table, Will is sitting across from SUZANNE, who is the same age as him. She listens attentively as he speaks.

WILL

See, my friend Rich was going out with this girl Gloria for two months or so earlier this year, but they broke up a few months ago.

INT. CLASSROOM—DAY

A PROFESSOR is lecturing at the front of the room. Will is sitting in the back of the room next to RON, who is trying to pay attention and take notes.

WILL

(to Ron)

But the thing is, we still hang out with Gloria every once in a while, and lately she’s been acting like maybe she’s kind of interested in me.

INT. PROFESSOR’S OFFICE—DAY

Will is sitting in front of the professor’s desk. The professor sits behind the desk, listening.

WILL

And the thing is, I’m kind of interested in her, too. I mean, she’s pretty, she’s nice…

INT. RESTAURANT—DAY

Will is sitting at a small table, speaking to a WAITRESS who is holding a pen and notepad.

WILL

…But then again, I don’t know if Rich would have a problem with it, and I feel like it would be weird to ask him.

INT. STUDENT UNION—DAY

Will and Suzanne are still sitting at a table together.

WILL

I mean, he’s a friend of mine, and I don’t want to make things all awkward.

SUZANNE

Did he break up with her or did she break up with him?

INT. CONFESSIONAL BOOTH—DAY

Will speaks animatedly on one side of the darkened booth’s divider, while a PRIEST sits on the other side, listening.

WILL

He broke up with her, which is part of why I think maybe he wouldn’t be offended by it, you know? But then again, maybe he would.

Beat. Will is silent. The priest strokes his chin pensively.

EXT. DORMITORY—DAY

Will is sitting on the sidewalk next to a HOMELESS MAN who is dressed in old clothes and holds a sign reading “NEED MONEY FOR FOOD.”

HOMELESS MAN

I think you just gotta do what you feel, man.

Beat.

INT. CLASSROOM—DAY

Will is sitting in the back of the class next to RON, nodding.

WILL

Yeah, you’re right. I guess, as much as I like Gloria, the possibility of a relationship with her…

INT. PROFESSOR’S OFFICE—DAY

Will is sitting in front of the professor’s desk.

WILL

…Probably isn’t worth losing a friend.

Will sighs and stares off into space.

PROFESSOR

Did you have some questions about the material?

INT. DORM ROOM—NIGHT

Will is sitting on the edge of his bed, holding his phone to his ear.

WILL

Thanks a lot for your advice, man.

HARRY

(V.O., on phone)

No problem, man. Talk to you later.

WILL

See you.

Will hangs up and starts to put the phone back in his pocket. The phone rings. Will answers.

WILL

Hello?

GLORIA

(V.O., on phone)

Hey, Will, it’s Gloria. Are you interested in hanging out tonight?

Beat. Will has a deer-in-the-headlights look.

WILL

Yeah, totally!

END