FADE IN:
INT. HOME - OFFICE
WRITERGIRL sits at a cluttered computer desk. On her computer screen Sacbee.com is open to the Classifieds section. She slides her mouse over to click the "place and add today" link. She stares intently at the screen as she types.
WRITERGIRL (VO)
Writer seeks freelance work. Eager to tackle screenplays, stageplays, ghostwriting-
WriterGirl stops in mid-type. With a rapid backspace she deletes the line. She slumps back in her chair and stares at the screen.
INT. HOME - LIVINGROOM
WriterGirl lounges on the couch, a writing pad resting on her knees. The phone's cradled in the crook of her shoulder and it jiggles as she clicks the TV remote rapidly, surfing through the channels.
FEMALEFRIEND (OS)
(mocking)
A classified add?WRITERGIRL
I'm running out of ideas.FEMALEFRIEND (OS)
It's not a bad idea but-WRITERGIRL
(interrupting)
I'm not good with the whole people thing.
A beat. WriterGirl stares intently at the TV. She punches the channel button with a zeal that hints at her annoyance and frustration.
WRITERGIRL
How do people do it? I mean, really?FEMALEFRIEND (OS)
(teasing)
They leave the house.
WriterGirl tosses down the remote and sits up.
WRITERGIRL
(sarcastic)
I can't begin to express how supported I feel right now.FEMALEFRIEND(OS)
(laughter in voice)
You get what you pay for.
INT. HOME - OFFICE
WriterGirl sits up in her deskchair. She slides the mouse and clicks open her current writing project. After a moment of typing she pauses. Her shoulders slump.
Once again WriterGirl leans back in her chair and stares at screen. Avoiding won't resolve her conundrum.
EXT. COFFEE SHOPE
Seated at a table outside, WriterGirl sips from the straw of clear plastic cup as GUYFRIEND tears open sugar packets and dumps them into his coffee.
GUYFRIEND
(flatly)
You need to get over it.WRITERGIRL
Networking just isn't my thing.GUYFRIEND
The people that make it, they get out there. They go into the world. They meet people. And they connect.WRITERGIRL
I connect with people...just online.GUYFRIEND
I can't begin to express how pathetic that sounds. You're not gonna get anywhere sitting at your computer.WRITERGIRL
That's not true. You have to make a product before you can sell it. And I'm very productive.GUYFRIEND
If what you "produce" just sits there, doing nothing, then what's the point?WRITERGIRL
That I created something.GUYFRIEND
Do you wanna make money and support yourself?WRITERGIRL
Yeah.GUYFRIEND
Then stop being stubborn.
INT. HOME OFFICE
The computer and WriterGirl stare at each other, at a standstill.
Slowly she goes to click open an old writing project. WriterGirl hits print.
The printer whirs and spits out the pages of her script. WriterGirl collects pages into a pile. She stares at her accomplishment.
EXT. POOL
WriterGirl and FEMALEFRIEND perched on floating devices in water. WriterGirl shifts on the floaty, leaning closer to her friend.
WRITERGIRL
The writing part isn't the problem. I write like most people breathe.FEMALEFRIEND
(bored)
You should just go to one of those circle things. I'll even go with you.WRITERGIRL
You want me to shut up, right?FEMALEFRIEND
I just don't get what the problem is. You spend hours on the computer, talking to these people. What's so hard about meeting them in person?
A beat. WriterGirl leans back and kicks her floaty so it drifts in a little circle.
FEMALEFRIEND
Do something. Anything. Just, get it over with.WRITERGIRL
(resigned she repeats)
Just get it over with.FEMALEFRIEND
Yep.
WriterGirl stares up at the sky.
WRITERGIRL
Just get over it.
INT. HOME OFFICE
WriterGirl puts the script on top of her computer. She clicks through to an article in the lifestyle section of sacbee.com.
She scrolls down to the bottom of the page and clicks multiple times. The printer begins to vibrate.
WriterGirl grabs the directions from the printer. She puts the script in her bag and turns off her computer.
She opens the door and doesn't look back as she leaves for the writers group. The door closes behind WriterGirl.
FADE OUT