Power Play

Power Play By Melissa Fernandes

First Draft Date: 17/10/2008

1: THE TOWER BUILDING: DAY: EXT

1

A Man is walking across a road filled with cars, lorries and bicycles. He ignores the angry blare of a horn, as he steps in front of a looming lorry. He carries on across the road, oblivious to the bicycle rider who swerves to avoid hitting him, and who is now swearing at him profusely. This is NICK ANDERSON. Nick carries on across the pavement and up a flight of stairs into a tower block. Inside the building, he pauses outside four sets of elevators. In his hand he carries a cricket ball, which he is tossing and turning as he waits. A blonde woman steps out of the elevator directly in front of Nick. He looks up in interest, as the woman struggles to lift her bag out of the lift. Nick doesn’t offer to help. He stands staring in lecherously, tossing the cricket ball, as her blouse rises up displaying her midriff. She catches him perving on her, and stares at him stonily as she drags her heavy bag past him. Nick steps around her and enters the lifts she exited. 2: THE LIFT: DAY: INT

2

Sharp Cut, and we see a young woman with sunglasses on is standing facing him waiting to get into the lift. She shakes her head as she steps into the lift after Nick. This is JANE MCCORMACK. She works with Nick. NICK What? JANE Nothing! NICK Why are you shaking your head? JANE I think that’s obvious. NICK Well it’s not really, which is why I’m asking, why are you shaking your head? JANE Never mind.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2. NICK So how’s the boyfriend then? What’s his name? Geoffrey? Geoff? Geoffers? Geoffy?

Nick examines the cricket ball. JANE You know his name Nick. NICK So how’s it going then? Can I buy my wedding hat? JANE Men don’t wear hats. NICK I personally think you and him suit each other to a T. Nick tosses the ball in the air and catches it. JANE And why is that? NICK You’re both conventional. JANE What the hell’s that supposed to mean? NICK I haven’t got a dictionary on me at the moments, so can’t give you the exact definition. Nick throws the cricket ball, and catches it with one hand. He looks at Jane and smirks. JANE Don’t be a smart aleck! NICK But it’s true you know? I can see you buying socks for him, and ironing his underwear in a few months. JANE Why Nick, you sound jealous. The lift doors open on the seventh Floor (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.

A Blonde woman steps out the set of elevators opposite Nick and Jane. This is NAOMI. Naomi spots Nick and Jane and rushes to catch up behind them. All three walk into an office. People pass by them, nodding and smiling at the two women, polite nods are aimed at Nick NAOMI Who’s Jealous? JANE Nick is. NICK I’m not jealous NAOMI Jealous of what? JANE My boyfriend. NICK Why would I be jealous of a man who irons his underpants? And it’s not what Naomi, it’s who. JANE He doesn’t bloody iron his underwear! NICK I bet he does. NAOMI He does, doesn’t he Jane? JANE No one was talking to you Naomi. NICK Touchy Jane. Jane shakes her head, and moves away from Nick and Naomi towards her desk, Nick ignores Naomi and moves towards his desk. In the process, he brushes past Naomi, and sits down causing her to stumble. He doesn’t realise and she looks at him in annoyance.

4.

3: OFFICE BOARDROOM: DAY: INT

3

Twelve men and Jane are seated around an oval table. Nick is sitting at the head of it, talking about the latest merger of a company. Jane, seated at the other end has been calling his name repeatedly for thirty seconds. Nick is oblivious. Jane gets up, walks over to Nick, bends towards his ear, and opens her mouth wide. JANE NICK! Nick jerks upright, his head smacks JANE in the mouth. NICK What?!? JANE holds his hand against her mouth, where a red tinge is beginning to spread. JANE I’ve been calling you for ten minutes! NICK No you haven’t. JANE Yes I have! NICK Well I haven’t heard you. What do you want? JANE Here are the reports you asked for. JANE places a sheaf of papers on the table before Nick. Nick stares down at them. Nick places his hand on the cricket ball and rolls it around on the table. NICK You’ve done them wrong. JANE You haven’t even looked at them! NICK I just know. JANE How exactly?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

NICK I just do. Do them again. JANE But.. NICK Again. The men around the table snicker. Jane stares at the other men around the table, and encounters smirks and rueful smiles. Jane looks at Nick. Nick stares back. Jane looks at the cricket ball, then back at Nick for a few seconds longer, then turns and walks back to her seat. Nick stares at her as she sits down. Jane stares back, a belligerent look in her eye. Nick keeps staring, and opens his mouth to speak. JANE I’ll have them ready for you by midday. NICK See that you do. Nick and Jane continue their staring war. The atmosphere in the room is now tense and edgy. The others around the table begin to shift uncomfortably in their seats. Jane finally surrenders the staring match and drops her gaze. Triumphantly with a smirk, Nick picks up the cricket ball and proceeds to move on to the next stage of the meeting, addressing the rest of the room. Jane is staring at the cricket ball. Her face is blank.

6.

4: OFFICE: DAY: INT

4

Fade in to see Nick at his desk. He picks up the cricket ball from his desk, and begins tossing it in the air. NICK I remember when I got this. Tosses ball in the air three times, catches it and turns it over in his palm. He looks to see if any one is listening to him. A man with glasses and an afro walks towards Nick’s desk. This is MARTIN. MARTIN When did you get it? NICK My first Cricket Match. Which I won. I seem to win in sports all the time. MARTIN You didn’t win at football last week. In fact you were crap. The rest of you guys played terribly. NICK Martin indicates to Nick to throw the cricket ball to him. The two begin a game of throw and catch. MARTIN I heard you were arguing with Jane again in the lift this morning. Martin looks towards Jane’s Desk. Jane is bent over her laptop, seemingly ignoring the two men. NICK Nah. Wasn’t arguing. She’s extremely sensitive and highly strung. Like most of the females in this office. MARTIN That’s a bit harsh don’t you think? Nick catches the cricket ball from Martin, and looks over towards Jane’s desk.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

NICK What do you think Jane? Am I being too harsh? JANE I’m not answering your question. NICK See this is what I mean. Over-sensitive. Nick throws the ball to Martin. NICK Highly strung! MARTIN Ah leave her alone. NICK She still hasn’t answered my question. She doesn’t answer many of my questions. Wonder why that is? Hmmmmm MARTIN See! This is why women hate you. Martin throws the ball to Nick. JANE No women hate him because he’s insensitive as opposed to my over-sensitive. NICK That doesn’t make sense. I have a dictionary on my laptop now, if you want it. A Thesaurus as well? Nick throws the cricket ball to Martin, and smirks. Martin laughs. MARTIN Fuck Me! JANE Yes. Funny. Right. NICK Highly strung women make the worst girlfriends. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

The two men carry on playing with the cricket ball. Jane bends back over her work. Annoyed again. JANE Nick. I need to speak to you. NICK Yes? JANE In private. NICK What about? JANE In Private. Nick sighs extraordinarily loudly, picks up his cricket ball and indicates to Jane to follow him into a side office. 5. OFFICE ROOM: DAY: INT

5

Fade in to see Nick by a window, Jane by the door to the office. Nick is in profile staring out of the window. JANE I don’t appreciate being humiliated in front of the whole office! NICK Humiliated when? JANE In the boardroom. Out there just now with Martin. NICK I think you’re overreacting Jane. JANE I don’t think so. If this continues, I’m making an official complaint to HR. NICK I own this company. Just exactly what do you think HR are going to say or do to me? Fire me? Nick laughs and starts tossing his cricket ball in the air.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.

JANE Why are you doing this? You seem to have it in for me? NICK Now you’re being paranoid. JANE You don’t treat others in the office this way. Nick throws the cricket ball in the air again, and then looks at Jane, a smirk on his face. NICK Maybe I would treat you with some respect, if you showed some intelligence now and then. Nick throws the cricket ball in the air again, before he can catch it, Jane reaches out her hand and snatches it. JANE I’m showing you some intelligence now. If you so much as speak to me ever again like you did before... Jane rolls the cricket ball over in her hands. JANE I’ll sue you...this company, and you know what? Jane leans closer to Nick, the cricket ball clenched in her fist. JANE I’ll take you for so much money, your great grandchildren will be paying me back. Jane steps away from Nick, and moves towards the door. Suddenly remembering she has Nick’s cricket ball, she turns back and throws the ball towards his face. Nick flinches and manages to catch the ball. Just. Jane turns and walks out the door. Nick remains by the window, turning the cricket ball over in his hands.

10. 6: RESTAURANT: NIGHT: INT

6

Fade in to see a group of SUITS (office workers) seated in leather sofas around circular tables. Elevator-style music is playing in the background, the lights are low, and a dim hum of voices can be heard in the background. Among the group of suits are Jane, Nick and Martin. All hold drinks in their hand and are in deep conversation with different people. SUIT 1 Those fuckers down at south are gonna sell aren’t they? Pointless not to. SUIT 2 Yeah we pitched them a great deal. Perfect. No way they ain’t gonna sell. Their shares are plummeting. Everyone’s are. NICK They’ll sell. It’s a given. SUIT 1 How can you be so sure? NICK Because I’m good at what I do. SUIT 2 I wish I could have your confidence mate. NICK Not everyone is like me. The key is to be confident in yourself and know that anything is possible. SUIT 1 Well well done mate. Suit 1 turns away and starts talking to someone else. Suit 2 stands drinking his drink next to Nick. Not sure of what to talk about. Nick has taken his cricket ball out and is tossing and turning it while he downs his beer. SUIT 2 So hows the lovelife then? Last I heard you had two women on the go?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

11.

NICK Yeah. They’re still there. I just need to choose one of them and stick to her. But they both want me and both are sleeping with me, so the choice is quite difficult. We see Jane wandering nearby with a drink in her hand. Nick spots her and starts to throw the cricket ball in the air, his speed increasing. NICK Women seem to enjoy men being horrible to them. I can’t quite fathom it. This isn’t Pride and Prejudice. I’m no Mr Darcy. SUIT 2 Well that ’Treat em mean, Keem em keen’ method works. Seems to be working for you. NICK Yes. It seems to work on all the women in my life. Doesn’t it Jane? Nick looks at Jane, while in one hand the cricket ball keeps tossing and turning in the air, slowly getting faster and faster. JANE All the women? I’m surprised you have any. What with your infamous charm and oh so pleasant personality. NICK You seem to have quite a few opinions on me. Opinions I’m not sure I like. Nick places his beer, with measured care, down on a nearby table. He returns to throwing the cricket ball in the air. Nearby we see the a waiter look towards him cautiously. NICK I think women should know their place. They should know when to speak and when not to speak.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

12.

JANE The same should be for men NICK No men were placed on this earth to be superior to men. Women should learn to accept this fact and deal with it. Jane places her drink on the table with force. Suit 2 is looking alarmed and edging away. JANE Men should learn to get rid of arrogant, egotistical, over self-confidence and admit to some humility now and again. The cricket ball in Nick’s hands is now being thrown from side to side, and we can hear the impact of the ball as it hits each palm. Slap-Slap-Slap-Slap. The speed is picking up. Nick’s eyes remain on the ball intensely. NICK Women should learn that their place in life is to serve men, and be subordinate. When I say speak, then you can speak. The cricket ball starts travelling faster and faster. Jane’s face is turning red with rage. Nick’s eyes remain on the ball. Slowly their fellow colleagues are gathering around them, fascinated. JANE Are you telling me, that i can talk, only when you say speak? NICK Precisely. Now I’m telling you to sit. Let’s see if you can obey that simple command. JANE I can’t believe you! I’m no dog, for you to speak to me that way. NICK Sit. JANE No

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

13.

NICK Sit. The ball starts travelling faster, and the slaps get louder. JANE No. NICK Sit JANE No. Fuck You. NICK Sit! JANE No! NICK Sit! The ball gets faster, faster, Nick’s eyes and head are following it’s movements. Jane’s fists are clenching and her body is braced. JANE No! NICK Sit!! JANE Fuck You Bastard! In mid throw, Nick snatches the cricket ball in one hand and smacks it into Jane’s face. Jane falls head back onto the floor, with a scream. Blood trickles from the corner of her mouth. Gasps of dismay and further screams can be heard from the people around them. The room has frozen. Nick picks up the cricket ball from where it lies next to Jane. He looks down at her. NICK I told you to sit. There’s a good girl. Fade out with Nick staring at Jane on the floor.