Green in the Eye

[DrBlonde]

Hey, this is my short film script about a teen who wins the lottery. Check it out.

FADE IN:

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE-DAY

TWO PEOPLE rush by the aisles. They finally reach the counter and plop a case of ICED TEA onto the counter. The TWO PEOPLE are BOB and MARK BLAIR.

MARK
Quit bugging me about this!

BOB
But I’m telling you Mark. Iced tea is the shiz-nit!

Pan across an aisle of food as they speak.

MARK
I never said it wasn’t, I just don’t like it as much as you.

BOB
You either love it or hate it, you choose.

MARK
Why the hell do I have to choose?

BOB
Choose Mark!

MARK
I’m not choosing!

Bob puts his drink on the counter.

MARK (cont’d)
Listen, push comes to pull, I don’t know if I’d pick iced tea out of every drink.

BOB
Shove.

MARK
What?

BOB
Nevermind.

CLERK
(Gesturing toward the iced tea)
Is this all?

BOB
No, I’ll have a lottery ticket too. Hey Mark, you want one?

MARK
Nah.

BOB
Oh come on!

MARK
Why would I get one, it’s a waste of money.

BOB
Mark, tonight’s prize is like a million dollars.

CLERK
(Correcting Bob)
Actually, 1.5

BOB
Million?

MARK
Yes, million.

BOB
You see Mark! One and a half million dollars!

MARK
Not to mention the tax cuts.

BOB
Fine, take away half a mil for all I care, heck, I’d take anything. All you have to do is buy one lousy ticket and you have the chance to win one and a half million dollars!

MARK
You’re right.

BOB
I know I am.

MARK
I have a chance. A chance Bob! One out of a million! It’s like finding a grain of rice in a hay stack. I never win anything, why try now?

BOB
(To the clerk)
Two lottery tickets, please. Pay up, Mark.

Mark sighs and takes money out of his wallet to give the clerk.

Mark takes out his wallet. The clerk rings him up and then hands him TWO LOTTO TICKETS.

BOB
(Bob smells the ticket)
It smells like a winner. Here ya go, pal.

MARK grabs the ticket from BOB.

MARK
Yeah, okay.

BOB
However, what’s really the matter worth discussing is what’s better: Cool Nestea or Brisk?

CUT TO:

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-LIVING ROOM-NIGHT

MARK and BOB sit on the couch and are watching TV. Mark’s cell phone rings.

BOB
It’s almost time, I can’t wait.

MARK
I think you may be taking this a little too seriously.

BOB
It’s fun, Mark. Fun, remember fun?

Mark’s cell phone rings.

MARK
One sec.

BOB
It’s almost starting!

Mark enters a side room.

MARK
Hey Lucy, what’s up…I know, I want to but I’ve got to watch something with Bob right now…Lottery drawings…I know…I’ll call you when he leaves, promise…

Mark re-enters the room.

MARK
You do know that I have never in my life won anything.

BOB
Nothing?

MARK
Nothing.

BOB
Even Candyland?

MARK
Even Candyland.

BOB
Now I know why you are the way you are.

MARK
Quit pulling my hair.

Long silence.

BOB
Shh, it’s starting.

MARK
I didn’t say-

BOB
Shhh!

Bob raises the volume.

WOMAN
Hello, and here are the Lottery Lounge Quick Pick Winnings Numbers.

Mark yawns and checks his nails.

Bob is at the edge of his seat.

WOMAN (cont’d)
7-9-3-6-6-5-1-9

BOB
ARGH!

MARK
(Still shocked)
What were those last three number?

BOB
519!

MARK
Oh my god.

BOB
What? What is it?

MARK
I won.

BOB
Shut up.

MARK
I won!

BOB
That’s not funny.

MARK shoots out of his seat and shows his ticket to BOB.

BOB
You little-!

Mark jumps in the air, throwing his fists around.

BOB plunges at MARK. They both wrestle on the floor.

BOB
Let me see that ticket!

MARK
No.

BOB
C’mon, let me see.

MARK
No, it’s mine.

BOB
No it’s not, it’s mine. I bought it.

MARK
It was my money!

MARK gets up.

BOB
They had to have screwed up. How does some random high school kid win the lottery?

MARK
7-9-3-6-6-5-1-9, I won. This can’t be.

Bob glares at Mark.

BOB
You didn’t even want to win.

MARK
What?

BOB
You didn’t even want to win. This is so unfair, I convinced you to buy it. I even bought it for you.

MARK
With my own money.

BOB
You wouldn’t have won if it weren’t for me!

MARK
It was luck. The entire lottery system’s based on luck.

BOB
Just give me the ticket. I’m the real lottery player between us.

MARK
No, Bob. Why are you being so weird?

BOB
Mark, please?

MARK
We’ll talk later, okay?

BOB
No, wait.

MARK
Bob, just go.

CUT TO:

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-MARK’S ROOM-NIGHT

Mark runs into his room and puts the ticket on his pillow.

He grabs the phone and dials.

MARK
Lucy, you won’t believe what just happened to me. But you can’t tell anyone.

CUT TO:

INT. BOB’S CAR-NIGHT

BOB
Hey Felix, it’s Bob. Yeah, you’re not going believe what I’m going to tell you. Mark just won the lottery. Tell everyone.

FADE TO:

INT. MARK’HOUSE-MARK’S ROOM-NIGHT

DREAM

MARK is sleeping. Next to him is his LOTTO TICKET on top of it’s own pillow.

At the window is BOB, his face is camouflaged and so are his clothes. He crawls in through the window. Slowly he tiptoes to Mark’s bed and gently lifts the ticket off the pillow. He then raises a gun and aims it at MARK’S head.

Then he pulls the trigger.

CUT TO:

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-MARK’S ROOM-NIGHT

MARK jolts upright in his bed. He is sweating and obviously had the worst nightmare ever. He looks next to him and sees that his LOTTERY TICKET is safely resting on a pillow beside him.

MARK looks at the window. It’s open. He gets up and closes it. Next, he locks his door. Puts the ticket in his wallet, and then he goes back to bed.

CUT TO:

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-BATHROOM-MORNING

Mark boxes in front of the mirror.

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-BEDROOM-MORNING

Mark puts his wallet in his jeans.

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-KITCHEN-MORNING

MARK walks in and takes a seat. His MOM is on the PHONE and his DAD sits at the table reading the NEWSPAPER.

DAD
Good morning Maxi million.

MARK
Maxi million?

DAD
We heard about the good news Mark.

MARK
Oh. How? I was going to surprise you.

DAD
Bob told us.

MARK
Does he call you guys personally?

DAD
Yes he does. He’s a good kid. You know your mother has been on the phone all morning with neighbors and relatives.

MARK
Why?

DAD
They’re all excited about the good news, too.

MARK
(Sarcastically)
Great. You had to tell them?

Mark accidentally spills his orange juice on himself.

MOM
Run upstairs and change. I’ll throw those pants right into the wash.

Mark runs upstairs.

DAD
That’s my son, eh?

MOM
(Into the phone)
…I don’t know if we can lend you any money…You’re not the first to ask you know…We’re not a damn bank!

MOM hangs up. Mark comes down.

MOM
Mark, this is driving me crazy. Everyone’s asking for money. How much did you win anyway?

MARK
One and a half million.

MOM
Dollars?

MARK
(Sarcastically)
No, yen.

DAD
Yen?!

MARK
It was a joke. Of course, dollars.

MOM
Oh my. I-I’m just going to throw these into the wash.

MOM fans herself and leaves.

The NIEGHBOR walks in.

NEIGHBOR
Hello, how’s everyone doing today?

DAD
How’d you get in?

NEIGHBOR
We got your spare key. Remember?

DAD
I believe that’s trespassing.

The NEIGHBOR ignores them.
NEIGHBOR
(With a fake plastic smile on his face)
Hey Mark, did I ever tell you how much I like you?

MARK
(Unammused)
No, you did not. Please do.

NEIGHBOR
A whole lot, that’s how much.

MARK
Please leave.

NEIGHBOR
Mark, my cousin’s dying. He needs surgery. It’s going to be very expensive.

MARK
What’s his name?

NEIGHBOR
Uhh Joseph.

MARK
What’s wrong with him?

NEIGHBOR
Uhh, Cancer.

MARK
Where?

NEIGHBOR
Where?

MARK
Cancer where. Where does he have cancer?

NEIGHBOR
Uh, Cincinnati.

MARK
No, where on his body?

NEIGHBOR
Oh, uhh, in his mouth.

MARK
He chew tobacco?

NEIGHBOR
No.

CUT TO:

INT. LAUNDRY ROOM-MORNING

Follow the back pocket of a pair of jeans and slowly zoom out.

MARK’S MOM dumps the HAMPER into the WASHING MACHINE.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN-MORNING

MARK
That’s really a tragic story.

NEIGHBOR
I know, tell me about it.

MARK
For the record, what’s his name again?

NEIGHBOR
(Nervously)
Uhhh, Tommy?

MARK
Get out of my house.

DAD
They’re all the same. I had twenty emails from friends and family this morning. They don’t realize it’s our ticket, not theirs.

MARK
Well, it’s mine.

DAD
Right.

MARK
(Sighs)
I’m cashing it in today. I’m not even going to school.

DAD
Atta boy, who needs school when you’ve got money, huh?

MOM
It’s a shame your father and I are both so busy today. We’d take the ticket up there ourselves.

MARK
I can handle it. I’m cutting school today and driving up myself.

MOM
I don’t think you understand how serious this is.

MARK
Quit babying me.

MOM
Babying you? This is everything we could have ever dreamed of.

MARK
Mom.

MOM
Vacations, the mortgage. We can re-do the bathrooms! Marble, Seymour, marble!

MARK
Just get to work.

MOM
We expect the best from you, Markie. Bye!

DAD
Mark, I have to talk to you.

MARK sits next to his DAD.

MARK
What is it dad?

DAD
Now you do know that we are your parents. Not only that, but we provide you with food and a roof. Therefore, I think that it would only be fair if that ticket was ours.

MARK
No, Dad.

DAD
You’re young; you don’t know what to do with one and a half million dollars.

MARK
I mean, obviously I’m not going to split for the coast and runaway. I’ll do whatever’s best for all of us.

DAD
You’ll let me decide that, thank you very much.

MARK
But this ticket’s mine. For once in my life I won something and I’m holding onto it.

DAD
Ugh, I’ve got to start heading to work; big meeting today. This conversation isn’t over.

MARK
Fine.

EXT. MARK’S HOUSE-MORNING

Mark walks his dad to the car.

DAD
You get that check and rush on home, you hear me? I expect it in my hands as soon as I’m home.

He starts pulling out of the driveway.

MARK
The ticket!

Mark sprints inside, clumsily.

CUT TO:

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-WASHING ROOM-MONRING

MARK runs down, trips, and desperately crawls to toward the washer.. He opens the WASHING MACHINE and starts digging around for his PANTS. He finally finds them; he looks inside the pockets only to find his ticket, all WET, very FRAGILE, about to break.

He holds it LIGHTLY and runs upstairs.

CUT TO:

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-BATHROOM-MORNING

MARK is DRYING the TICKET with the BLOWDRYER.

CUT TO:

INT. MARK’S HOUSE-DAY

Mark rummages in the nightstand and can’t find his keys. He looks in his shelves, and in his pants.

The ticket sits on the windowsill and wind blows on it slightly, but luckily the ticket still stays on.

He finds a note on the door:

We knew you were going to be difficult so we took your keys. Off to school you go and tomorrow after you give us the keys, we’ll be a very lucky family.
Love,
Mom & Dad

Mark takes out his cell and dials.

MARK
Mom, are you crazy?! Mom, it’s MY CAR! I wasn’t going to just run off with a million dollars! It’s my ticket, my responsibility, my life!

CUT TO:

EXT. SCHOOL-DAY

LUCY, his GIRLFRIEND, gets out of her car and walks up to him.

LUCY
Hey hun. What happened to missing school?

MARK
My parents took my keys.

LUCY
Well, I’m going to school. I don’t know about you, but I still have a life to worry about.

MARK
Oh, come on.

LUCY
I have two tests today! I’m not missing school for your stupid ticket.

MARK
Stupid?!

LUCY
I don’t even believe you.

MARK
I don’t want to jinx it. Just take my word for it.

LUCY
You’re a liar.

MARK
I’m not.

LUCY
Let’s go, we’re going to be late for school.

MARK
I can’t believe I’m going to school after all of this.

CUT TO:

EXT. SOUTH-DAY

Car goes down South driveway.

Mark whistles “If I Had a Million Dollars.”

CUT TO:

EXT. SOUTH-DAY

MARK
Bob told everyone didn’t he?

LUCY
I’m beginning to get that same idea.

GUY #1
Hey richie rich!

FELIX
Hey Mark, I can call you Mark, right? My name is Felix. Nice to meet you.

GUY #2
Wanna hang out after school?

A FOOTBALL PLAYER puts his arm around MARK.

FOOTBALL PLAYER
Did I ever tell you how cool I thought you were?

MARK keeps walking. A CHEERLEADER walks up to him.

CHEERLEADER
(Seductively)
Hey baby, you want some of this?

She walks away, very seductively. MARK’S eyes are on her ass. LUCY notices and rolls her eyes.

LUCY
If I may quote The Beatles, “Money can’t buy you love.”

MARK
Another song by The Beatles, a cover, nevertheless, “Money (It’s What I want).”

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL-CLASSROOM-DAY

Mark walks in. A student gets up and gives him his seat.

STUDENT
No no, I insist.

MARK
Well, if you insist.

Mark has a huge grin on his face.

Mark looks across the room and the entire class nods their heads at him in acknowledgement.

TEACHER
Mark, Principal Krauzer would like to see you. He says it’s urgent.

Mark looks confused. He gets up and leaves the class.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY-DAY

Mark strolls down the halls. He drags his hand along the lockers.

He has a big grin on his face.

CUT TO:

INT. DEN-DAY

Mark sits in a bath robe with a pipe in his mouth.

A butler walks in with two keys.

BUTLER
Excuse me, sir. Would you like me to drive you in the Ferrari or the Maserati this evening to your brunch with the President?

MARK
Why Wilton, can’t you see that I have a massage in five minutes? Besides, the President is quite juvenile, really.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY-DAY

Mark makes his way into the Principal’s office.

INT. PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE-DAY

Principal Krauzer sits in his chair, solemnly.

PRINCIPAL
There he is, the man of the hour. Take a seat.

MARK
What can I do for you, sir?

Mark takes a seat.

PRINCIPAL
It has come to my attention that you have recently acquired a great deal of…wealth.

Mark notices Bob at the door.

MARK
You’ve got to be kidding me.

BOB
That’s my ticket, Mark. You wouldn’t have ever bought it if I hadn’t had convinced you. It was my idea. MINE!

PRINCIPAL
That will be enough. If you may excuse us? You will be rewarded in due time.

BOB
I understand.

Bob gives Mark a piercing stare.

PRINCIPAL
What a kind gentleman. You two were such good friends. It would really be a shame if you two were to ever get in a quarrel. Or even worse, if you were to ever hit him.

MARK
Well, there’s no problem because I would never.

PRINCIPAL
I’m not saying that you did, but if you were ever to hurt him and I was the only witness. Well, professionally, I would be left no choice but to take appropriate measures against you.

Mark listens to him, confused.

PRINCIPAL (cont’d)
Appropriate measures which may entail suspension, even expulsion, hindering your future at any prestigious university.

MARK
Principal Krauser, are you doing what I think you’re doing?

PRINCIPAL
As I’m sure you are aware, we have quite the football team over here at West Point High and I take much pride in our team. Let’s go Roosters, eh? Our games, our wins, our schools spirit, ours sponsors. We have quite the team. A team with run-down lockers. Out-of-date equipment.

Mark is appalled, almost laughing at what is happening.

PRINCIPAL
A team that needs the proper funding to keep its moral and playing up. You have school spirit, don’t you, Mark?

They stare each other down.

MARK
…Of course I do.

PRINCIPAL
Great. I’m glad we have an understanding. Would you like a cookie?

CUT TO:

[DrBlonde]

INT. LUCY’S HOUSE-DAY

LUCY
I can’t believe he did that.

MARK
You’re telling me. The man left me upstream without an oar. This is all getting way out of hand.

Lucy looks away, awkwardly.

MARK
What?

LUCY
Nothing.

MARK
No seriously, what?

LUCY
I dunno, maybe you deserve it. I mean, you have been acting sort of like a jerk lately.

MARK
Me? A jerk? Never.

LUCY
You’ve been glowing all day, whether you like it or not. I can see your head growing as we speak.

MARK
That’s totally unfair. I resent that.

LUCY
Fine, fine, let’s just get going.

MARK
Ack, work. I freaking hate this job.

LUCY
That’s why they call it work.

MARK
But seriously, why should I work anymore? Soon I’ll be worth over a million dollars.

LUCY
You see? This is exactly what I mean.

MARK
Oh come on. You’re making it seem like I was born with a silver straw in my mouth or something. Think about it. Why should I bother making minimum wage anymore?

Mark picks up the phone and dials.

LUCY
I don’t know about you, but I still need to work.

MARK
I’ll still drive you. But I’m through with this stupid job.

LUCY
This stupid job pays for my gas.

MARK
Don’t cry over spilt rice. I’ll pay for your gas.

LUCY
No thanks, I don’t need your charity.

MARK
Charity? You’re my girlfriend, it’s my job…(Into phone)Hello. Hey Rodney, it’s Mark…Things are good, things are good…Actually, yeah, I was just going to call about that…No, I’m not sick or anything…I just don’t need the job anymore…Listen, I’m just quitting. It’s as simple as that? What’s not to get?...

Lucy gets offended at his attitude.

MARK (cont’d)
No, I don’t want less hours. I’m through with your stupid establishment…Yeah, that’s right, I said it.

LUCY
That man has always been good to you, letting you work whenever you wanted, adjusting your hours around your soccer practices, letting you call out all the time.

MARK
Yeah yeah yeah, nobody said I was some good salamander or whatever.

CUT TO:

EXT. LUCY’S HOUSE-DAY

Mark and Lucy are walking to Mark’s car.

MARK
Do you want to go to Steve’s party tonight?

LUCY
Steve? The Steve that is 99% muscle and has three girlfriends at once? Since when are you friends with him?...Ohhhh, riiiight.

MARK
Oh come on. It sounds like it can be fun. It’s a change.

LUCY
Just make sure you bring your check book.

They get in the car.

MARK
You know what I think? I think you’re jealous.

LUCY
Trust me, I’m not.

MARK
Yes, yes you are.

LUCY
I mean, sure, winning the lottery is definitely admirable, but…I don’t know if jealous is the word.

Mark turns the car on.

LUCY
Can I see the ticket?

MARK
Guard it with your life.

Mark takes the ticket out of his wallet and hands it to her.

MARK
You’re so jealous.

LUCY
Quit being a jerk.

MARK
I can see the green in your eye.

Lucy puts the ticket down.

LUCY
Stop.

MARK
You wish you were a millionaire soo bad, don’t you?

Wind blows on the ticket.

LUCY
I said stop!

MARK
You can’t handle seeing me win, can you?

LUCY
You’re disgusting.

The ticket is barely staying on the dashboard.

MARK
It pains you to see me like this, doesn’t it?

LUCY
Mark, I’m not kidding.

MARK
Look at you. It’s killing you. You’re jealous. You’re jealous of your own boyfriend and you just can’t handle seeing him get rich.

The ticket flies out of the window.

LUCY
I can’t take this, it’s over. You are the biggest jerk EVER!

Mark glances at the dashboard and his grin turns into a grown.

MARK
Where’d the ticket go?

Mark stops the car.

LUCY
Mark, didn’t you just hear me? I just dumped you.

MARK
Shut up. Where’s the ticket?

LUCY
I don’t know. It was on the dashboard a second ago.

MARK
Lucy, this isn’t funny.

LUCY
Mark, I dumped you!

MARK
I don’t freakin’ care! WHERE’S MY TICKET?!

CUT TO:

EXT.STREET-DAY

MARK gets out of his car and sees the ticket in the distance.

A LITTLE KID picks it up.

MARK
Hey kid! Drop the ticket.

The KID runs away. MARK chases after him.

The KID screams in fear.

Mark tackles the KID and the KID drops the ticket on the street.

A car drives by and the ticket gets stuck to its wheel.

Mark sprints to the car.

CUT TO:

INT. MARK’S CAR-DAY

Mark jumps into the car and starts driving.

LUCY
What are you doing?!

MARK
Following that car!

LUCY
You’re not wearing your seatbelt!

MARK is CONCENTRATED on the ROAD.

MARK
Shut up!

LUCY
Let me out of this car!

Mark ignores her, watching the road.

LUCY (cont’d)
I want to get out!

MARK
Did the ticket fall off the wheel?

LUCY
I hate you!

MARK
I think it did!

MARK stops the car and gets out.

LUCY
Mark, did you hear me?! I dumped you!


CUT TO:

EXT. STREET-MORNING

MARK looks around. NO sign of the TICKET.

He walks over to a STREET GUTTER and then notices something in it. It’s the TICKET!

MARK
This isn’t happening.

MARK gets on his knees and tries to reach for the ticket. He fails in doing so.

MARK walks onto somebody’s property and takes a stick. He tries poking the ticket, and again, no success.

MARK walks over to the MANWHOLE COVER and tries to open it. No success.

MARK has had it up to here with all this bad luck. He kicks the curb, only to hurt his foot. He grabs it in pain. He falls to his knees and-

MARK
(Shouting to the sky with his arms in the air)
Why god, why?!

FADE OUT: