![James stares at the headset in his hands.
INT. JAMES' ROOM - EVENING
James and Liza sit on the bed clearly watching a movie. A
scream comes from the screen and Liza jumps, screaming too.
James gently touches his ear.
NEIL
(O.S.)
Well, put your arm around around
her!
James smiles and puts his arms around her, which she
responds to by looking up at him smiling.
NEIL
(O.S.)
Kiss her, you pussy.
James does.
EXT. THE SOUTHBANK - AFTERNOON
Liza and James walk along the beautiful London Southbank,
hand in hand.
Liza excitedly points out sights and James smiles, often
touching his ear before replying.
EXT. THE PARK - DAY
[Insert dialogue of Neil telling James compliments to say to
Liza that are clearly meant for James]
EXT. THE BEACH - DAY
James and Liza sit on a blanket on the beach, huddled up
together under another blanket, looking at the sea.
Cut to cute little montage of cliche, couple frolicking on
the beach type activities, except involving the headset at
all times.
INT. JAMES' ROOM - EVENING
James and Liza lie on James' bed watching another movie. He
has his arm around her.
LIZA
James?
JAMES
Yeah, babe?
LIZA
I wanna tell you something.
Something important.
NEIL
(O.S.)
Oh shit, that's not good. Pause the
movie.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/sa1stdraft-151022110044-lva1-app6891/85/INTROVERT-1st-draft-6-320.jpg)
INTROVERT (1st draft)
- 1. INT. A NICE RESTAURANT - EVENING James, approximately 18 years old, sits alone at a restaurants booth. He is wearing a suit and tie. He looks awkward, uncomfortable and alone. Clearly nervous, he constantly adjusts his tie, checks his watch and checks his underarms for sweat. He stares down at the table and plays with his napkin, muttering nervously under his breath. JAMES Pull yourself together, man. Come on, Joel. You can do this. A shadow falls over him and he looks up with shock. We see Liza, also around 17 or 18. She's a cute, girl-next-door type. Not knockout gorgeous but pretty and friendly. She's not quite as smartly dressed as James, but she is wearing a modest dress and makeup. She looks at James, slightly nervous about catching him talking to himself. LIZA Uh, sorry I'm late. The train was delayed. JAMES (stammering) No, no, don't worry. Hi. Hi, hey, how are you? James leaps up to take her coat, before realising there's nowhere for him to put it, so he simply hands it back to her. LIZA I'm fine. And you? JAMES Yeah, good, yeah. He gestures to her seat awkwardly and she sits, him following suit opposite her. There is a silence. LIZA So, JAMES (simultaneously) I- LIZA Sorry, you go. JAMES Uh, thanks for coming. Sorry, I didn't, I mean. Um, I wanted to ask in person, but, um, You know, it was easier... Over text. LIZA Oh, don't worry. Thanks for asking.
- 2. JAMES Yeah. Uh, no, it's... you're welcome. Another silence. JAMES So, uh, what were you going to say? LIZA When? JAMES You know, just now. LIZA Oh... Uh, sorry, I can't remember. JAMES Oh, cool. I mean, uh, yeah. That's fine. Pause. JAMES I, uh, I bought you this. He picks up a red rose from the bench next to him and hands it to her. LIZA Oh, thank you... That's really sweet of you. JAMES (blurting out) I don't love you. LIZA What? JAMES Well, uh, I read that you give red roses to someone if you, you know, love them. So if you thought that meant I love you, I don't. I mean, not now. Uh, not yet. Liza looks at him, slightly shocked. He can't bare the silence and so carries on talking. JAMES They only had red roses at the shop. I, uh, I wanted pink, that means I appreciate and respect you. Which, uh, I do. Pause. LIZA Thank you. JAMES No, you're welcome, that's fine.
- 3. I'm going to the bathroom. He practically leaps off the seat and hurries away, leaving a perplexed Liza staring at the red rose in her hand. INT. RESTAURANT BATHROOM - EVENING James storms into the bathroom, breathing heavily. He punches the wall next to him and buries his head in his hands. A pause while he gathers his thoughts. He pulls out his phone and calls Neil. NEIL (O.S.) Hey, man. How's it going? JAMES Shit. NEIL (O.S.) She didn't show? What a bitch. JAMES She did. I just can't talk to her. NEIL (O.S.) Oh. A pause. Neil knows how awkward James is. NEIL (O.S. Cont.) She didn't like the rose? JAMES Maybe. I don't know. I couldn't stop talking about love and colours. Neil doesn't bother to ask. JAMES (Cont.) Neil. I need your help. What the hell do I say to her? NEIL (O.S.) Ask her questions. JAMES About what? NEIL (O.S.) Her. Her life and her interests and shit. JAMES I don't think I can do this, Neil.
- 4. NEIL (O.S.) Just chill. Listen to everything I'm about to tell you, okay? INT. A NICE RESTAURANT - EVENING James sits down opposite Liza. We can immediately see the change in him. He seems confident and relaxed. Instead of wearing his suit jacket, he's carrying it over his arm. His sleeves are rolled up and he's loosened his tie a bit. Liza looks up from her phone, confused by the sudden change. JAMES Sorry. LIZA No worries. JAMES (gesturing to her phone playfully) I'm away for 2 minutes and you're already texting your side guys? LIZA (laughing) No. I was wondering if you'd ditched me. JAMES Ditch you? Babe, you're adorable. Why would I ever ditch a girl like you? Liza looks down at the table, blushing and smiling. James leans over and takes her hand. She looks up, a sparkle in her eye. She likes him. INT. NEIL'S ROOM - DAY James sits cross-legged on Neil's bed, using a textbook to write notes, obviously some kind of homework. Neil is sitting next to him, doing the same. Neil seems like a calm, confident and friendly guy, a good friend. NEIL (without looking up from his notes) So how'd it go? JAMES Good, yeah. Really good. Neil puts his pen down and looks pointedly at his friend. NEIL You don't sound that enthusiastic. Didn't you do what I said?
- 5. JAMES Uh, yeah. I did. NEIL But? JAMES It went way too well. NEIL Too well? JAMES Like so well, there's no way I can recreate it. I think you should just date Liza. She loved everything you told me to say. NEIL Don't be dumb. JAMES I'm serious. I should just give her your number. You'd make her so happy. Neil looks at James. He looks so small, dejected, insecure. The look on his face is heartbreaking. Neil sighs and goes over to a drawer. He takes out a bluetooth headset and hands it to James who looks at him questioningly. NEIL Look, I have unlimited minutes. Just call me before your next date, put on the headset and I'll tell you what to say. A pause. He can't be serious. JAMES Are you joking? NEIL I want you to be happy, mate. If you think my words will make you happy then go for it. JAMES Would that... Like... Could that work? NEIL Don't see why not. Beat. JAMES Wow. Okay. Well. Are you sure? NEIL Sure I'm sure.
- 6. James stares at the headset in his hands. INT. JAMES' ROOM - EVENING James and Liza sit on the bed clearly watching a movie. A scream comes from the screen and Liza jumps, screaming too. James gently touches his ear. NEIL (O.S.) Well, put your arm around around her! James smiles and puts his arms around her, which she responds to by looking up at him smiling. NEIL (O.S.) Kiss her, you pussy. James does. EXT. THE SOUTHBANK - AFTERNOON Liza and James walk along the beautiful London Southbank, hand in hand. Liza excitedly points out sights and James smiles, often touching his ear before replying. EXT. THE PARK - DAY [Insert dialogue of Neil telling James compliments to say to Liza that are clearly meant for James] EXT. THE BEACH - DAY James and Liza sit on a blanket on the beach, huddled up together under another blanket, looking at the sea. Cut to cute little montage of cliche, couple frolicking on the beach type activities, except involving the headset at all times. INT. JAMES' ROOM - EVENING James and Liza lie on James' bed watching another movie. He has his arm around her. LIZA James? JAMES Yeah, babe? LIZA I wanna tell you something. Something important. NEIL (O.S.) Oh shit, that's not good. Pause the movie.
- 7. James reaches for the remote and pauses the movie. JAMES What is it? Liza looks up at him, nervous and scared. LIZA The thing is... Well. I... I love you. James looks at her in shock. Happy shock, like he can't believe his luck. He gives her a brilliant smile and opens his mouth to return. NEIL (O.S.) Don't say it! James pauses and Liza stares at him, desperate for him to say it back. NEIL (O.S.) Don't you dare, man. Way too soon. Don't be so fucking eager. James hesitates, before deciding to ignore Neil. JAMES I- NEIL (O.S.) James! When have I ever been wrong with this girl?! James hesitates again, but then sighs, clearly giving into Neil. JAMES That's really sweet of you. Liza looks at him, clearly hurt. INT. JAMES' ROOM - DAY Black screen. LIZA (V.O. angry) It's been months, James. You haven't said you love me, you haven't even said you enjoy being with me. Pause. LIZA (V.O.) James, listen to me for fuck's sake! James' POV - he opens his eyes and sees Liza standing
- 8. angrily over his bed. We see James lounging on his bed, as always his headset on. NEIL (O.S.) Tell her to calm the fuck down. JAMES Liza, you need to calm down. LIZA No, I don't need to do shit. You need to take that stupid headset off for 5 seconds and pay attention to me. No one ever calls you on it, you just walk around looking like a twat that's living in the 2001 or something. NEIL (O.S.) I'll tell you I love you when I'm ready. JAMES I'll tell you I love you when I'm ready, babe. LIZA Don't 'babe' me. When are you going to be ready? Do you even like me? NEIL (O.S.) Insecure bitch. JAMES Neil- LIZA Oh, always Neil. This is about you and me. You're not in a relationship with Neil. JAMES (standing up) Fuck's sake, Liza. Stop being so goddamn insecure. LIZA It's kind of hard not to be insecure when your boyfriend acts like he doesn't want to be around you half the time. JAMES Liza- LIZA No, I'm sick of it. You take like 10 seconds to reply every time I say anything, it's like you don't even listen or don't want to talk
- 9. to me. James sighs and touches the headset, looking for help from Neil. LIZA (cont.) That fucking headset! She rips it off his head and tosses it across the room. Time slows down for James. This is the first time in months he's been 'alone' with her. She stares at him, hurt and furious. His breathing speeds up as he tries to think of something to do. He slaps her, hard. INT. JAMES' ROOM - EVENING James is on the phone to Neil. He looks distraught, like he's been crying for hours. JAMES No way am I gonna get her back, Neil. I slapped her round the face for fuck's sake. She's never going to speak to me again. INT. NEIL'S ROOM - EVENING Neil is on his laptop, talking to James on the phone. NEIL I won't lie to you. She probably won't speak to you again. JAMES (O.S.) God, what do I do?! NEIL It's for the best to be honest. I reckon you'll be way happier now. I didn't like her much. We see what's on Neil's computer... A Google search for 'how to tell if you are gay'.
- 10. to me. James sighs and touches the headset, looking for help from Neil. LIZA (cont.) That fucking headset! She rips it off his head and tosses it across the room. Time slows down for James. This is the first time in months he's been 'alone' with her. She stares at him, hurt and furious. His breathing speeds up as he tries to think of something to do. He slaps her, hard. INT. JAMES' ROOM - EVENING James is on the phone to Neil. He looks distraught, like he's been crying for hours. JAMES No way am I gonna get her back, Neil. I slapped her round the face for fuck's sake. She's never going to speak to me again. INT. NEIL'S ROOM - EVENING Neil is on his laptop, talking to James on the phone. NEIL I won't lie to you. She probably won't speak to you again. JAMES (O.S.) God, what do I do?! NEIL It's for the best to be honest. I reckon you'll be way happier now. I didn't like her much. We see what's on Neil's computer... A Google search for 'how to tell if you are gay'.