These are my findings to this week’s screenwriting exercise:
Andy, 20
- Male, half Filipino and half Maltese
- Born of a middle class immigrant family in the Western Suburbs
- University student studying Public Relations with a casual job in a music store
- He has olive skin, dark hair and brown eyes. He is tall and lean with a swimmer’s build but has no interest in sports
- Andy enjoys watching films and has an extensive knowledge of its history. He also has a liking towards jazz music. He is a homosexual and is currently single.
- He used to have a strong relationship with his mother, until she couldn’t accept her sexuality. He has always been distant from his father who used to travel a lot for work. He is an only child.
- The most important thing for him in the world is to escape the suburbs and to make a career for himself in the city. He dreams of being a ‘suit’ and socialising with other upper-middle class singles who are on top of their careers.
- He loathes the idea of being a mixed race and always neglects to mention his Asian heritage. The idea of being an immigrant irritates him, when all he wants is to fit in.
Bec, 28
- Female, Australian
- Born of a wealthy upper class family based in Brighton, currently located in Windsor
- Working as a bartender at a Cabaret bar in Fitzroy
- She has rose blonde hair that has been cut harshly close to the roots and piercing blue eyes that are the first thing anyone notices about her. She is pale, heavily freckled and of average height
- She is brash and uncaring for what other people think of her, all she truly cares about is fulfilling the idea of being “herself” even though most of what makes her who she is, is to spite her parent’s privilege. She hates anything remotely political (her parents were in media and politics) and her only true passion is diving.
- She’s always been in a terrible relationship with her absentee parents, but is always in contact with her little brother, whom she adores terribly.
- Even though her birth name is Rebecca, she refuses to be called so.
“A man and a woman are sitting across from each other at a small table in a dimly lit restaurant.”
BEC is having dinner with her mother at a cheap Chinese restaurant. She hadn’t seen her mum for at least two months and it is going terribly. Her mother, as soon as they sat themselves, begins asking her about her work and plans for the future and if she was in a relationship. To Bec’s agony, her mother claims that she should find herself a partner, as she is already twenty-eight and one night stands would not cut it. Bec spies a nervous looking man on the other side of the room sitting on his own. To spite her mother, Bec leaves the table to approach the man, and sits across from him with intentions of picking him up.
ANDY, surprised at Bec’s appearance begins to question her when his father arrives at the restaurant, late to their dinner. His father assumes that Bec is Andy’s girlfriend. With kicks under the table and invisible finger jabs, Andy introduces her as Sasha, his long time partner, and makes up stories about their past. Bec goes along with it, amused. Andy’s father stands up to order his meal and Bec questions Andy. He confesses that he fears he was summoned by his dad to confront him about his sexuality and how Bec must continue pretending to be Sasha. Andy claims that his father would excommunicate him if the pastor found out he’s gay and his dying mother’s heart would break. Andy’s dad returns to the table and asks Bec about her childhood. At this moment, Bec’s mother stands up, throwing cash at the table and approaches the company. She exclaims that “she’s had enough of this childish pettiness, Bec!” and leaves the restaurant. Confused, Andy’s dad asks her who the woman was and why she had called her Bec. Bec is speechless, unable to reason and Andy proclaims that he has news to share to distract his dad. Stumped, Andy reveals that Sasha and he were engaged. Andy’s dad stands up, exclaiming that his wife should meet their future daughter-in-law, he and Bec leaving the restaurant arm in arm.