The Three of Us (full screenplay.)

 Basically, this is the screenplay I've been working on. I edited it here on the blogger page as much as I could lol. It's about three kids, Harlow, Nathan and Roman, who have to play together some songs at the end-of-year concert of the music school they all go to. Honestly, I'd rather direct than write. I hope to find some artists and animators soon :).

The Three of Us - An animated short movie

SCREENPLAY BY rainmaker

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - EVENING

The atmosphere is cold and grey; the imperfect order of everything is something to make you go crazy.

A small bird passes near the window, it then lays on a tree outside. 

Harlow sits on her bed staring into space, bored; she’s been like this for quite a bit of time.

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - NIGHT

It’s yet another bad day, Harlow’s on the bed in a different position staring around dead annoyed, sadly. The bed is unmade this time, the room even more messy. 

Some clothes are scatted around, books piled up on the floor, some torn pieces of paper on the floor.

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Harlow is on the bed with a book, barely paying attention. She’s doesn’t show interest in anything.

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - MORNING

A phone call wakes up Harlow.

NATHAN (O.S.)

Hey there Harls.

HARLOW

Wh...

NATHAN

Haha sorry if you were sleeping, but I have to update you. We’re going to bring that piece we’ve been playing to the end of year concert, teach just confirmed.

Suddenly Harlow is very awake.

HARLOW

Hold up. What?

Nathan laughs.

NATHAN

So start getting ready because we’re not backing out of this.

HARLOW

No Nate I can’t.

NATHAN

Oh come on, don’t be annoying. See you tomorrow at school and then we’re going to try the songs. Bye.

HARLOW

No Nathan wait!

Harlow’s phone BEEPS loudly in the quiet, rapidly darkening room, indicating the end of the call. She closes her eyes sighing loudly. 

INT. SCHOOL - MORNING

Harlow sulks as she meets ROMAN, 15 cheery, and NATHAN, 16, serious,  in their usual corridor.

HARLOW

We need to talk.

ROMAN

Oops someone’s mad.

NATHAN

What Harley? We have to do it, and you can’t say no. That’s it.

ROMAN

Oh no.

HARLOW

I refuse to play in public just like that, you idiot.

Roman side-hugs Harlow, chuckling.

ROMAN

Oh, come on Harls, I mean, he’s right, it’s a way to see how far we’ve come.

HARLOW

We’ve gotten to the point that I’m still terrified of playing in public, Roman still can’t get to the end without losing the rhythm,  and you still can’t do your whole piece, Nathan. That’s the point we are at.

NATHAN

Well, we did just start playing together, so it’s normal to still be behind. We’ll make it, you don’t have to worry. 

Roman eyes the two warily, with a small grin on his face. 

ROMAN

Come on you guys, let’s go to class, it’ll be fine. We’ll talk about it later.

The fractured trio heads to class.

INT. CLASSROOM AND CORRIDORS - MORNING

During school, Harlow panicks. Her hands keep on slightly shaking.

NATHAN

It’ll be ok.

HARLOW

Sure. Whatever Nate.

Roman sighs dramatically loud from the other side of the room. Nathan and Harlow glare at him.

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Harlow is on the bed with her phone in hand.

INSERT 

TYPES “PRACTICE GUITAR” AND CLICKS “REPEAT EVERYDAY”.

Her eyes are sad, she sighs and glances at the guitar as if it were an enemy, but then the stare moves to the mirror: the look is still murderous.

A SERIES OF SHOTS 

-4PM MONDAY ALARM HARLOW LAYS ON BED AND TURNS IT OFF

-4PM WEDNESDAY ALARM HARLOW LAYS ON BED AND TURNS IT OFF

-4PM FRIDAY ALARM HARLOW LAYS ON BED AND TURNS IT OFF

INT SCHOOL CORRIDOR - MORNING

Roman, Nathan and Harlow chat togetheer amiably and go to class. They have never been able to stay mad at each other for too long for such stupid reasons.

ROMAN

You guys have any idea how the hell to do that slide midway? We should practice it together...

NATHAN

Say in a couple of days at mine?

HARLOW

Sure.

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Harlow reads a book on her bed, when the alarm plays, and she goes to practice frowning. Outside it’s sunny.

INT NATHAN’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON

The group tries the song for a couple of hours.

EXT ROOFTOP - EVENING

The atmosphere is relaxed. A very low, warm light comes from a small portable lamp, creating a somewhat cozy atmosphere. It greatly contrasts the dark and cold winter weather, it makes the three feel like a small flame standing alone in the wind. Roman plays an ukulele.

ROMAN

How about we eat an ice cream?

NATHAN

We’re like, in december dude.

ROMAN

It’s always ice cream time.

NATHAN

No it’s not.

ROMAN

Yes it is.

HARLOW

I mean, it kinda is.

NATHAN

For real?

HARLOW

You know what I think about ice cream.

NATHAN

You know what I think about what you think about ice cream.

Roman barks out a laugh. Then a sad look flashes in his eyes, and he lays his back down on the floor.

ROMAN

Really, an ice cream would do me good right now.

Nathan and Harlow share a look. Roman gets like this sometimes, they know. There’s a bit of silence. 

NATHAN

Hey, come on there, don’t get sad on us. We were just talking about ice cream, weren’t we?

HARLOW

Oh who would we even be without ice cream?

Roman chuckles and gets up a bit to face his friends.

ROMAN

Nobody, I’m telling you. God knows how many times it saved us, the sugar, the cold... I’m not religious, but amen to that.

HARLOW

Yeah, it would be a great moment to just become religious, wouldn’t it?

NATHAN

And there she goes.

ROMAN

Yeah, then maybe magically I wouldn’t have to move and you’d be a bit less afraid of that stupid show. Oh and Nate would be a bit less of a grump, of course.

NATHAN

Ha, funny. Real mature, too.

The joke gets lost to the wind, and silence sets in again. The city lights in the back sparkle as Roman bites back his tears.

ROMAN

I hate this.

NATHAN

Yeah. It’s not fair.

ROMAN

We’ll see each other again. As soon as I get my license I’m coming back here.

NATHAN

We talked about this Rome. You have to make new friends for yourself. Don’t forget us, but move on, for real. You can’t live alone, you need other people.

ROMAN

Yeah 

(his voice cracks)

Sure Nate.

Somehow, Nathan knows it will take a lot more than that to convince his friend. He looks at him conflicted, then shifts his gaze.

ROMAN

Sure.

They look at each other as a tear slips down Roman’s eye. He effortly reaches over to Nathan, who accepts his hug like it’s the millionth he’s received from him, like it’s the millionth he has accepted from the other boy.

A second later Harlow is behind them, placing her head on Nathan’s shoulder. He’s always been their rock, now also literally.

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - AFTERNOON 

Harlow practices guitar with a frown on her face.

INT SCHOOL CORRIDOR - MORNING 

The group of friends sees each other at school again, they smile at each other and go to class togheter. They are   trying to move on slowly from their own sadness. Roman puts an arm around Harlow’s shoulder as they go.

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - AFTERNOON

The alarm to practice rings, Harlow ignores it. It rings another three times, an hour passes, it gets darker outside. She realizes an hour has passed, she turns on her light and decides to finally start practicing.

INT HARLOW’S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Harlow, Roman, Nathan try the song at school, but Roman keeps on getting his part wrong. The tension grows mistake after mistake, Harlow feels as though she is the one making mistakes and she gets progressively angry.

HARLOW

You’re not on time, you’re getting the pauses wrong, put some effort in, damnit.

ROMAN

Yo chill, this is going fine.

HARLOW

No, it is not going fine Rome, this is going so bad, stop saying that, you sound like a total jerk.

ROMAN

Never said I wasn’t.

HARLOW

That’s exactly what I am talking about. You act like a damn child all the time, it’s annoying, and it’s starting to get on my nerves.

ROMAN

Awe, poor little you, getting all angry.

HARLOW

Stop it Roman.

ROMAN

Shut up Harlow.

The tension just keeps on building as the two raise their voices. Suddenly, Harlow has enough.

HARLOW

That’s enough then. I’m quitting. I’m out of here, if every single time we have to play something you act like this.

ROMAN

Then leave, you idiot! Didn’t want you in the first place!

Harlow is about to curse even louder when-

NATHAN

Stop it, both of you.

He glares at Roman.

NATHAN

Do your job. You are in a group and are responsible, you need to stop acting like a kid and a jerk.

He turns to Harlow.

NATHAN

I know you are nervous, but you can’t just get angry like that and lash out. Apologize.

Silence as everyone is shocked by Nathan speaking up.

HARLOW

Don’t talk to me like that Nathan.

NATHAN

Don’t talk to him like that then.

HARLOW

He deserves it. He never does his job, never helps us out, doesn’t even consider for a second how nervous I am or that maybe this thing is important to you. 

NATHAN

Of course he knows, you know he doesn’t do it on purpose to talk like that, come on, reason. He’s always been like this, literally.

HARLOW

So I should just say sorry for something I haven’t done because he can’t do it??

NATHAN

That’s not what I’m saying and you kno-

ROMAN

-I’m sorry

Silence for a second.

ROMAN

I’m sorry ok? I didn’t mean to talk like that, I don’t know why I did it, I guess I didn’t want to disappoint you. Can we just continue please? We still have five minutes.

Harlow looks like she’s about to say something else, but she keeps it to herself seeing Nathan’s glare. They start again in eery silence.

EXT. MUSIC SCHOOL - EVENING

They finish in silence, Roman walks away towards his house, leaving Harlow and Nathan behind. The atmosphere is uncharacteristically chilly.

NATHAN

You could have avoided doing that.

HARLOW

I know you hate when he does that too. We were doing everything wrong, it is going to be a mess.

NATHAN

God Harlow, you need to stop being so damn anxious about it. It’s gonna be fine.

HARLOW

Can’t you, I don’t know, do it without me? Or maybe I do the bass part, and you get the guitar? maybe it would come out decent.

NATHAN

No Harls, you have to do it on your own. 

HARLOW

But Nate-

Tension starts building up. Nathan begins to get unusually angry.

NATHAN

No. Get over it.

HARLOW

At least listen to me-

NATHAN

No. You have to do it.

HARLOW

I’m not going to-

Nathan has enough. He raises his voice suddenly, making Harlow jump in surprise.

NATHAN

You have to stop this Harlow. You keep on doing always the same thing... I..

He’s at loss for words. 

He stops for a moment, steps back, passes a hand through his hair and pulls at it. It looks somewhat painful, but it’s grounding him. He breaths in. His next words are cracked, the voice small.

NATHAN

You have to stop this. 

(a beat)

Can’t you see what you are doing? You can’t live your whole life like this, scared of everything.

He looks at her with sad eyes. His anger isn’t gone, though it is very much laced with concern.

NATHAN

Not everything is as monumental as it feels. People don’t really care about what you do, and if you make mistakes it’s ok. Nobody. Cares. How can you not see that?

Harlow doesn’t know how to answer.

NATHAN

I’m not going to help you on this. Do not expect me to come for you. You can and have to do this on your own.

He walks away angrily. If there were a door to slam he’d do so immediately. And then, as if it were a last minute thought, he partially turns around, eyes full of anger.

NATHAN

And stop creating problems while we play the songs. I’ve tried so many times to help you out, but I can’t be the only one who does.

He walks away.

Harlow is left alone on the street, the lights of the music school and the nearby shops behind suddenly feel too bright. 

She looks up. It’s night. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

There are tears in her eyes. She doesn’t brush them away. 

INT. HARLOW’S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Harlow is on her bed, turned towards the desk, where the guitar is, looking at it with semi-closed, puffy eyes and tear-striked face, now dried from a log time.

The alarm on her phone rings. She ignores it.

INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - MORNING

Harlow crosses looks with Nathan chatting with Roman. She passes by them.

INT. HARLOW’S ROOM - AFTERNOON

Harlow lays on her bed and looks at a picture of her, Roman and Nathanial. 

The doorbell RINGS. Excited, she jumps up and looks out the window. Is it them?

She looks out the window. No.

Falls back on her bed, even more depressed, realizing...

HARLOW

I have to do this for myself, don’t I?

There’s a look of determination in her eyes as she grabs the guitar and starts playing,

INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - MORNING

Harlow runs to Nathan, she apologizes. Roman ends up hugging her, as always. As if nothing happened at all, they begin walking to their class, like any other day.

INT. THEATRE- AFTERNOON

Nathan, Roman and Harlow sit in the wings of the grand theatre: it feels like too important of a location for such a small event. It feels ominous, only contributing to make Harley more nervous.

NATHAN

I’m sorry Harls. I feel really anxious right now and  I can only imagine that you have been feeling like this all this time, perhaps only worse. I guess I’m sorry I didn’t really help you out.

He glances down.

NATHAN

I guess, sometimes it becomes kind of hard to see your point of view. I’m sorry for not trying harder.

HARLOW

Hey. I needed that, thank you.

They look at each other, and they don’t need any other word. Maybe it’s because they know each other so well, or maybe they can’t think right: but friendships work like that sometimes, don’t they?

ANNOUNCER O.S. 

The next group is made up from three of our students, here come Harlow, Nathaniel and Roman, with their original piece:”the three of us”!

Harlow looks up, takes a deep breath: she can do this.

They go...

INT. STAGE - CONTINUOUS

On the stage the teen’s hand tremble. She begins making a mistake, she ends making another one. They are both audible, she panics slightly at both.

But somehow, it ends. The APPLAUSE from the crowd comes anyway. The three look at the public for a second, then each other.

ROMAN

We did it guys!!

NATHAN

Yeah, we really did.

He looks fondly at Roman smiling, then intensely at Harlow.

NATHAN

You did it Harls.

Roman takes them all in a group hug.

Unexpectedly, the alarm on Harlow’s phone ring. They turn around, confused. Harlow recognizes it and starts laughing.

Roman shrugs, steals Nathan’s rose from the pocket of his jacket and runs away laughing, off the stage. Nathan, disoriented, walks fast off the stage smiling, ready to catch his friend. Harlow glances one last time at the public, smiles, and rushes off to reunite with her friends.

As if everything were back to normal.

As if she’d overcome her biggest fear on her own.

THE END