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A conversation screenplay
- 1.
- 2. INT. BARBERS SHOP- DAY JACOB sits tensely in the barbers chair while stood behind him is MARCO cutting his hair. The barbers shop is ungenerous in space, but comfortable. Only two barbers chairs and our two characters are the only people in the shop. Jacob wears a suit and tie. His cotton coat and naturally his short green scarf are hung up on the coat hooks just next to the entrance. He's successful and he knows it, he wears his success on his sleeve, like a badge of honour, quietly. Marco is practically invisible. Jacob is on the phone. JACOB (into phone) I just don't get it, we're giving you money, don't go and tell me it isn't enough. Money is money. We're helping you for christ sake. Be grateful. It gives me a headache just thinking about it. My responsibilities, climbing the ladder. Sometimes I forget why I'm even here... why I started all this. I trace back hundreds of conversations, interactions, encounters, dinner parties, coffee breaks, phone calls... only to loose the plot until I'm pulling my hair-- Jacob realises where he is. He pulls himself back to his environment. JACOB (CONT’D) (into phone) Sorry what were you saying? (listening) Nothing, man, I feel nothing. You can't in this job. I wish I could, but you can't. As Jacob's conversation drys thin, he finally notices Marco, almost startled at his presence. He subtly glares at him. JACOB (CONT’D) (to Marco) Hey, just be careful ok.
- 3. 2. Jacob worried thatMarco will get hairs on his suit. MARCO No worries man. Jacob turns back from looking over his shoulder to now staring in the mirror again. He grabs a tissue from the side and rubs his hands on it, he puts the tissue to the side of his chair but it falls to the ground. MARCO (CONT’D) Looks like you dropped something there, mate. Jacob looks to the floor. JACOB Oh shoot, sorry... He picks it back up. The camera follows Jacob's hand as he picks up the tissue, but when his hand leaves the ground the camera stays looking at the floor. JACOB (O.S.) (CONT’D) ...about that. MARCO (O.S.) Hey, not a problem my friend. JACOB (O.S.) Hold on... MARCO Do you want me to stop? JACOB (O.S.) No, it's just... I'm sorry you look familiar, I might be making a complete fool of myself here but... did we go to school together? Marc- MARCO (O.S.) Oh Jacob its you, how's it going man? JACOB (O.S.) It's going well, as you can imagine and whats going on with you? MARCO (O.S.) I'm livin, makin money. Just like any man. (MORE)
- 4. 3. MARCO (O.S.) (CONT’D) I'm happythough, comfortable, that's what counts, no? JACOB (O.S.) Well sure, yeah. So you're a barber now? MARCO (O.S.) Yeah.. kind of. JACOB (O.S.) Kind of? Come on, I'd hope to know the man cutting my hair right now is a qualified barber. (nervously laughing) You know what I'm saying? Whatever you do, don't touch the clippers. MARCO (O.S.) I know my way around someones head, I'll put it that way. Jacob attempts to add another comment on the subject of the validity of Marco's qualifications of being a barber. Marco cuts him off. MARCO (O.S.) (CONT’D) -- so you're successful now, right? Evidently you've got lots of money, nice clothes, couldn't help but over hear your conversation earlier, on your phone. You must be stone cold. You can't feel anything in your business, right? The camera now pulls back up, from staring at the floor- to the characters. JACOB (stern) What are you trying to say? MARCO I'm just making observation, chill man. JACOB No, you're making more than an observation, you were making an indirect question of the validity of what I do.
- 5. 4. MARCO Chill man, chill...but I must ask- what is that you do? Give pennies to those need more? Jacob gets up out of his chair and takes off his blazer. JACOB Ok this isn't right. As soon as I got here, things didn't feel right. EXT./INT. BARBERS SHOP - EARLIER - DAY STREET OF THE BARBERS SHOP Jacob walks on the street with pride and presence. Not saying anything. Not wearing anything too boastful for the streets, that attracts envious attention. But his presence is know. Every stride in his step is heard. His black, freshly polished shoes shine in the sunlight, even when there is no sunlight. The noise his shoes make when they press against the stone pavement floor can be heard and known. His thick silver watch is visible from a mile away, yet it doesn't look clunky or out of place. From the colour and material from his coat, to his blazer, to his shirt, to his scarf- all perfectly complementing each other and at the same time, standing out and having their own identity. All synchronised riches. He enters the barbers shop. BARBERS SHOP Marco appears swiftly from the back door. Jacob doesn't move. He just looks around. He is the first one to speak. JACOB Where's Elliot? INT. BARBERS SHOP - PRESENT We cut back to the present, an argument brewing, suspicions are being made. Jacobs sleeves are now rolled up.
- 6. 5. MARCO I already toldyou, he's taking care of his sick mother. JACOB But he never communicated this with me. INT. BARBERS SHOP - EARLIER JACOB You simply don't understand, he always cuts my hair- even when Helen is in and she can serve me, I always have Elliot do it. Hell, I book out the entire shop, he plays classic music, we talk- INT. BARBERS SHOP - PRESENT JACOB - I don't get why he didn't contact me about this, you know, to reschedule. I'm sorry, it's just it doesn't seem like him leave me with you. He speaks that last sentiment with disdain. INT. BARBERS SHOP - EARLIER MARCO Listen man, he owes me. You're in capable hands, and anyway INT. BARBERS SHOP - PRESENT MARCO I can't believe you'd expect him to contact you. You're just another customer. It isn't like you two are friends, but you act like you've known him for years. Have you ever seen him outside of the barbers shop? Jacob doesn't say anything, this conversation isn't helping the stress he is currently going through at work.
- 7. 6. MARCO (CONT’D) No, didn't thinkso. The only reason he made things special for you is, he knows you've got money. You might tell your rich friends about thus place. But I can tell you this- you were never friends. JACOB We had good talks, we laughed. MARCO No. You had good lectures. You were the one talking, he was the one listening. Just admit the only reason you come here is to mingle with the simple folk. Make yourself feel better about earning more money. Being successful. Talking at Elliot made you feel humbled, like you were giving to charity. You love being this successful, don't you? I bet all you ever talked about was your expensive holidays. Work. This nice things in life you can afford that he can't. JACOB Ok, just stop! I get it. It's probably all true... He collects himself and looks at Marco dead in the eye. JACOB (CONT’D) ...but do you mean to say that you're happy with your life? You have nothing to show for it. MARCO You can't buy happiness with money. JACOB And yet you tried to... you tried to get into L.B.S but your grades didn't cut it, not to mention the fact you tried cheating in the exam. Obliviously you've never known what it feels like to truly want something otherwise you wouldn't have to cheat. And you're going from job to job, pay check after pay check with nothing on your name. No pride. No honour. (MORE)
- 8. 7. JACOB (CONT’D) I feel happywalking the streets with respect written on me. But hey, maybe you were the smart one... the true irony of it all is... well, once you chase a dream and you discover its not what you expected. That hurts. But at least I've got a nice car, right? A silence falls upon the two. Jacob looks out of the window, onto the streets. JACOB (CONT’D) It feels good to get that... The room turns to darkness. The only source of light is a spotlight shining on Jacob. We hear an audience cheering. JACOB (CONT’D) ...recognition.