ATTHESOUNDOFTHEBEEP
Anoriginal shortscriptbySteveMeredith
BLACK SCREEN:
A voice mail answering machine message is heard. It says “Hi this is Jess, when it beeps you know what to do. I’ll get back to you!” TYLER’S (at the time an 18 year old) voiceover begins.
TYLER: (V.O. leaving a message)
Hey Jess, it’s me, it’s Tyler. Look, I know you’ve left SeasideHeights. I just want to talk to you, please, just pick up the phone. I haven’t talked to you since we kissed that night, and that was three weeks ago. Just please, if you get this, just call me back. You know my number, I’ve given it to you on every other voicemail before this one. Just please call me…I…I still love you. I still stand by what I said that night. I believed you when you said you loved me and Jess, I love you too, ok, I love you t—
The machine kicks off.
FADE IN:
EXT ROOFTOP, NIGHT:
SUPER: “Four years later”
TYLER, a 21 year old man is sitting overlooking the beauty of SeasideHeights amusement park at night. The faint sound of carousel music is heard in the background.
KEVIN, also 21, is TYLER’S best friend. HE comes and sits down next to TYLER.
KEVIN:
You know, Ty, you’re going to have to talk to her at some point.
TYLER:
I know…(pause)…but you tell me something Kevin, how in God’s name am I supposed to start that conversation?
KEVIN:
I wish I knew.
TYLER:
I mean, she got me to tell her that I loved her, and she just up and left the next fucking day!—
KEVIN:
I know that! Come on man, she’s been waiting to talk to you for an hour downstairs. She’s afraid to even look you in the eye.—
TYLER:
WELL MAYBE SHE SHOULD BE!! I mean come on Kevin, was she just trying to get back at all the guys that used her before me? Was that her plan? Did she expect me to just find someone else?—
KEVIN:
YES!! Tyler, look at yourself, you’ve been in a state of depression for four years because of this girl. The only way you’re going to close things out is if you talk to her!
KEVIN goes to leave the roof.
KEVIN:
I’m your best friend, and for your own good, I’m sending her up.
A few moments pass. The camera is on TYLER, and then a woman, 21, named JESSICA appears behind TYLER.
JESSICA:
Hi.
TYLER: (turning around)
Hi.
JESSICA:
You mind if I sit?
TYLER:
Nah, not at all, please, sit.
PAUSE
JESSICA:
I like your goatee.
TYLER:
Thanks. You know I’ve always liked the way you looked; (with a chuckle and smile) you haven’t changed a bit.
JESSICA:
Thanks.
PAUSE
JESSICA:
So I guess you want me to answer the big question…why I left.
TYLER:
It’s not the big question, it’s the only question, Jess. It’s the question that I’ve been racking my brain with for four solid years.
PAUSE
JESSICA:
I could tell you one of two answers, or I could tell you both.
TYLER: (pissed)
Well why don’t you pick the one that has the added virtue of being true and give me that one.
JESSICA:
My grandmother, who lives in Georgia, was ill, practically on her deathbed. I didn’t have a choice.
TYLER:
Well you could have told me that.
JESSICA:
Well I was also terrified.
TYLER:
What?
JESSICA:
I know it sounds stupid, but I was terrified that you were going to be just another summer fling and leave me after school started—
TYLER:
When did I ever give you the idea that I was going to leave you, Jess? For Christ sake I told you I loved you!—
JESSICA:
I know, I know!! But so have a lot of guys, and they’ve all left me—
TYLER:
Oh, so I’m just like every other guy out there! What the fuck did you think I would do, just leave my love for you at the sound of the beep?!
JESSICA:
NO! That’s not what I’m saying!! I just figured that you’d be alright, that you’d find someone else.
TYLER:
Oh so you up and leave me with the Heights?! With Seaside fucking Heights?! And you think that just because I have the fucking amusement park that I’m just going to find some new fling?! Here’s a news flash Jess, they’re all prostitots!! Why would you assume that I would be alright?! Maybe that’s my other question; why the fuck did you assume that I was so much like EVERYONE else?!
JESSICA:
BECAUSE IT WAS ALL I HAD EVER HAD UNTIL YOU!!
TYLER:
I WAS GOING TO CHANGE ALL THAT!!
JESSICA:
I KNOW!! OK?! I ALREADY FUCKING KNEW THAT!!
PAUSE.
It begins to rain, in a steady downpour.
TYLER leans over and kisses JESSICA…hard…with all the passion that has been built up in him for the past four years. They both start making out, TYLER and JESSICA both start to cry as TYLER lays JESSICA down on her back and they continue to make out. TYLER separates from JESSICA, he is now in tears.
TYLER: (on the edge of yelling)
Jess, you hurt me so much when you left. You ripped my fucking heart out, and I’ve hated you for so long. And I’ve hated the fact that pretending to hate you is what I have to resort to because deep down, for four fucking years Jess, for four FUCKING years, I’ve missed you more than anyone! You were the only thing I could think about for FOUR YEARS!! I was crying at my dad’s funeral not because he was gone, but because of you Jess, because of YOU! And I hate the fact that I have to pretend to hate you because deep down Jess I still love you. I still fucking love you and I’ll always love you!!
TYLER kisses HER again.
JESSICA:
I’M SO SORRY!! Please Tyler, I’m so sorry. I love you so much. I love you so fucking much and I’ve missed you.
JESSICA kisses HIM again
TYLER:
Don’t you ever fucking leave me again. I need to prove to you that not all guys are the same. I need this chance!
JESSICA:
I’m not going anywhere!
THEY continue to kiss as low rumbles of thunder are heard.
FADE OUT.
The sound of the rain hitting the roof is the last thing heard.
ROLL CREDITS.
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