A Wannabe Girl (Short Version working title)
A short screenplay, based on the feature film
A Wannabe Girl
By Steve Cosmic
Draft 2.7, November 1, 2021
Copyright. Confidential. For potential cast and crew only.
The Characters.
Mona. Early 20's. She works as a server. She is frequently unemployed, and because of this she has trouble paying rent for an apartment sometimes. She sometimes crashes at friend's places, sleeping on couches. Now she has gotten a gig housesitting. She gets free rent and $50 per day to house sit.
Natalie. Early 20s. Mona's best friend. She is studying for a law degree at university. She has her own apartment. Her parents support her so she doesn't have to work.
Aaron. About 25-30. Handsome. An new actor with a day job.
Marlene. About 40, married with 2 children.
Some dialogue has improper sentence structure and grammar. This is intentional.
Some spcecially written songs will be used in this movie. With some songs, there will be no dialogue, and there will be sort of "story music videos" which fit the songs, as part of the movie.
FADE IN
Mona and Natalie are walking at Kitsilano Beach. They are each carrying a coffee. They walk behind a camera dolly.
NATALIE
So tell me about this kind of deal you
have for a place to stay.
MONA
It's through a home sitting agency.
I'm staying at this guy's place while
he's away. I get free rent and $50 a day.
NATALIE
Do you have to do anything?
MONA
I take phone messages when I'm there,
but I don't have to be there all the time.
And I water his plants.
NATALIE
What's the place like?
MONA
It's just an apartment. The guy makes websites for people.
That's why he wants the phone answered
as much as possible. (beat)
NATALIE
And you get 50 bucks a day. Pretty sweet.
MONA
Oh, I forgot to tell you! I met a guy!
NATALIE
Really? What's he like?
MONA
He's really cute. He's an actor. And he says he can introduce
me to a director he knows.
NATALIE
So you still want to get into being in movies?
MONA
Yeah. I think I can really act. Remember I was in that play.
NATALIE
Yeah, you were good.
MONA
He gave me his card. I'm going to invite him over for coffee
to talk about acting.
NATALIE
Well, be careful.
MONA
No worries. I trust him. And he's really cute like I said.
You want to come and see the place?
NATALIE
Can't today. Gotta study for exams.
(beat) I should really get back to my books.
(beat)
Let's walk towards my bus.
MONA
OK.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
Mona is in her home sitting apartment. Shots of apartment. It is the apartment of a techy geek guy. A bit messy. Notes and pictures tacked up in different places. It is ground floor, with a nice patio and lots of patio plants.
Mona picks up the card from the actor and calls him. She might call from the patio. Aaron answers. The screen is split as they talk on their phones.
AARON
Hello?
MONA
Hi Aaron? It's Mona. Remember we
talked in the coffee shop and
you gave me your card?
AARON
Oh, yeah! How are you?
MONA
I want to ask you some things about acting.
I was wondering if you wanted to come
over for coffee?
AARON
Sure I can do that. When?
MONA
How about in an hour? I'll give you the address.....
FADE OUT.
FADE IN
DAY. OUTSIDE. 2 DAYS LATER. Shot of Mona's patio window. A specially written song plays. The curtains are closed. The curtains open, just wide enough for a face to peer outside. Mona's face is seen, looking out, squinting at the light. She is unkempt. Her hair is a mess. She looks around a bit and closes the curtains again.
CUT TO:
Interior of Mona's apartment. It's a mess. There are clothes on the floor. A pizza box, candy bar wrappers, chip bags, take out food buckets etc are on a table. Mona sits there, drinking coffee from a mug. Her clothes are wrinkled and dirty. She stares into space. The song continues to play. She walks into a messy kitchen and makes instant coffee. She returns to the table and sits down.
Her phone rings. It is Natalie. Shot of high rise apartment where Natalie lives. Zoom to an upper apartment. A split screen is used sometimes as they both talk.
MONA
Hello.
NATALIE
It's me. Why is your phone off? I've been
trying to call you for 2 days!
MONA
I don't know. I just felt like having my phone off. What's up?
NATALIE
Are you OK? !! I've been worried about you!! (beat)
How are you doing? Like after what happened?
MONA
What happened? Nothing happened. I'm OK.
NATALIE
Nothing happened??!! I think you are not OK! I'm
coming over!
MONA
I don't want you to come over. I'm OK. Don't worry.
I looked outside. I'm going to go out for a walk. ....
I'll... I'll call you later.
NATALIE
Are you sure?
MONA
Yeah I'm sure. I'll call you later....
NATALIE
Well OK. And leave your phone on, OK?..... Bye.
FADE OUT
FADE IN.
Back lane behind Mona's appartment. Mona is still unkempt and looks a mess. She walks as another song plays. The song is one of the specially written songs for this movie.
Mona walks slowly. One shoe lace is untied and she ignores it. She looks around a bit, but mostly she looks downward.
She comes to the intersection of a street and the lane, and she sees a power pole with some notices and small posters stuck to it. There are postings about lost cats, yoga lessons, movers, guitar lessons, yard sales and a bike for sale. Mona looks and then spots a posting for an upcoming bikini contest. All contestants get $100 and the winner gets $1000 and a trophy. Mona tears off a phone number from the poster and walks back home, walking more quickly now.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
Mona's place. She has had a shower and changed into clean clothes. Her hair is wet from her shower.
She calls Natalie. Natalie is at home studying. Split screen of them both sometimes, other times cuts back and forth.
NATALIE
Hello.
MONA
Hi it's me. How are you?
NATALIE
I'm studying. But how are you?
MONA
I'm fine. And guess what? I'm going to enter a bikini contest!
NATALIE
A bikini contest? You don't even like wearing a bikini!
MONA
I know. But I'm going to get used to it.
I'm going to wear a bikini every day for a week
until the contest. And I'm going to start training.
NATALIE
Training?
MONA
Yeah. It's in a week. I've got time to tone
up and lose a couple of pounds.
NATALIE
Why do you want to do this?
MONA
Well there's a thousand dollar prize and a trophy. I get
a hundred, even if I don't win.
NATALIE
Well I never thought you would do anything like this.
Are you sure you are OK?
MONA
Of course I'm OK. Why wouldn't I be?
FADE OUT
FADE IN
Mona's apartment. Mona is on the floor in her bikini. She is finishing a set of sit ups. A special song plays here.
MONA
96, 97, 98, 99, 100.....
Mona gets up and sits at her table. She is puffing. She picks up her phone, and presses "Record". Mona speaks into her phone.
MONA
Well the contest is a week away. I've decided to
record my thoughts for the week.
I think it will encourage me to train hard.
I know the other girls are probably all in great shape,
but I'll do the best I can.
Natalie asked why I'm doing this. I told her it
was for the prize money. But I don't really care
about the money. (beat) I think I don't really know why I'm doing this.
But I'm gonna do it. And I'm going to wear my bikini
every day, and jog outside in it too. I've got to get
used to wearing it in front of people.
People will look but I'm going to do it anyway. It
will help me when I go on stage at the contest.
Mona stops recording, and puts her phone down. She stands up and looks at herself in a mirror. She picks up some small hand weights and uses them for a bit. She looks at herself in the mirror as she exercises. She looks determined. And then suddenly she looks as if she will cry.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
DAY, LATER. Mona is jogging in her bikini at Kitsilano Beach. She is wearing a cardigan sweater over top of her bikini. Part way through her jog she removes her sweater. Another special song plays during this scene. Sometimes she holds her head up and her shoulders back like she is proud. Other times she looks down as if she will cry.
Mona jogs behind a camera on a dolly, and in beautiful pan shots with scenery in the background. She runs towards the camera, and passes the camera on one side. As she approaches the camera, and passes it she is chanting....
MONA
Nothing happened. Nothing happened.
Nothing happened. Nothing happened.
Nothing happened.....
FADE OUT
FADE IN
THREE DAYS LATER.
Mona has invited Natalie to come and visit. Mona has been eating well, and exercising, and she is feeling quite well. Natalie is anxious as she enters.
They enter the main room, and Natalie looks around a bit.
MONA
I've made some tea, and I've got some healthy muffins.
NATALIE
Sounds good.
Natalie sits, looking around a bit more. Mona brings tea and muffins to the table and sits down. She moves her exercise weights to one side.
MONA
I've been exercising with these..... And jogging. (beat)
Outside..... In my bikini.
NATALIE
Well you look good. (beat) I thought it would be a fancier place.
MONA
Yeah, it's kind of ordinary. But it's got a nice patio.
(beat) I think the guy makes good money, but he's saving it
for some kind of start up or something. He's away
two more weeks. I've got to tidy up before he
gets back.
NATALIE
Mona.... pretending nothing happened is not
going to work.
MONA
What do you mean?
Natalie takes a big breath, and looks at Mona.
NATALIE
Mona! You were raped!
Mona looks at Natalie but does not acknowledge the gravety of what Natalie has said.
MONA
What makes you say that?
NATALIE
Mona!! I saw it!! I saw it in my laptop!!
Mona's mouth hangs open in disbelief.
MONA
You saw it?
CUT TO..... FLASH BACK.... in Black and White. It will look like a lower quality web cam video.
The scene described below by Natalie will be acted out but the audio from it will probably not be used. Instead, Natalie's voice below will be heard, like a voice over narration. Some tense, dramatic music will play.
NATALIE
Yes. I saw it. I saw it all. (beat) You were modelling your new
sweater for me.... You were showing it with the guy's
computer and his webcam. (beat) We were talking on
our phones at the same time, because the audio in
my laptop doesn't work. (beat)
Mona is trance like, staring into space.
NATALIE
Your buzzer rang. You said it was the actor
guy coming and you said bye and turned
your phone off. I saw the guy walk in and
sit on the couch. He looked around a bit, but he
didn't notice the web camera. He was mostly
looking at you making coffee.
You came back with coffee and sat on the couch.
You looked like you were talking about acting.
You drank your coffee. He moved
closer and you moved away.
(Natalie is getting emotional)
He put his arm around you and grabbed your breast. I
couldn't believe it. I screamed but of course you couldn't
hear me. (beat)
(Natalie cries)
It was terrible! I couldn't do anything! (beat)
I called 911 but then realized I didn't know where
you were. I didn't know your address.
I called you and your phone was off. I was yelling
and screaming and crying. It was awful. (beat)
And then something told me to click record on
my laptop. I recorded it all.
FLASHBACK, black and white scene ends
MONA
You recorded it?
NATALIE. It's all in my laptop. (beat) And you
didn't turn your phone on for 2 days! I got
so mad at you!
MONA
Sorry...... I don't remember any of that. The last few days
I have felt like crying sometimes, but I didn't know why........
Suddenly Mona is overcome with emotion, and she starts crying uncontrollably. Natalie hugs her and she cries too.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
They have stopped crying.
MONA
I think now I know why I am entering the bikini contest....
NATALIE
And why is it?
MONA
Because when I'm in the contest, they can all
look at me, but they can't fucking touch me.
(The rape is NOT acted out.)
FADE OUT
FADE IN
2 days later. Mona is jogging in an upscale residential area wearing a cardigan which is partly open, showing she has her bikini underneath. Another special song plays.
Her jogging turns into a walk. She adjusts the belt on her cardigan, closing her cardigan as she ties the belt.
She approaches a bench in a small park. She is sobbing now. MARLENE watches her sit on the bench
as she sobs more intensely. Marlene walks over to Mona on the bench.
MARLENE
What's the matter?
MONA
(beat) I... I was raped.
Marlene quickly sits down by Mona and puts her arm around her.
MARLENE
Me too. I know what that's like.
MONA
You were?
MARLENE
Yes. When I was about your age.
Mona looks at Marlene.
MARLENE
But I healed from it. I feel better now.
(beat)
I met a nice man and got married. We have
2 children. I am happy now.
MONA
I thought of killing myself.
MARLENE
Me too.
MONA
Now I'm going in a bikini contest.
MARLENE
I posed for some nude pictures. (beat)
I somehow felt that I was getting back at men.
MONA
I think that's what I'm doing too.
(beat) And you're happy now?
MARLENE
Yes I am. I got therapy and went to support groups.
MONA
And it worked?
MARLENE
Yes. And you will be happy too.
MONA
Are you sure?
MARLENE
Yes I am. It takes time. (beat) Would you like a hug?
MONA
Yes, ...please!
They hug.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
Inside Mona's apartment. She is standing by her dining area table. She picks up her phone. She calls ARRON, the guy who raped her. Some tense music will be heard.
CUT TO
Exterior. Back lane. Aaron is washing his car, or vacuuming his car. His phone rings. Scene will be partly cuts back and forth, and partly split screen as they talk.
AARON
Hello.
MONA
This is Mona.
AARON
Hi! How are you? (beat)
Do you want to get together?
MONA
Get together?? !! Are you crazy?!!
You raped me you fucking asshole!!
I've told the police!
AARON
You can't prove anything.
MONA
Yes I can! We've got a video of it! My webcam was
on and my friend recorded it! They'll be arresting you
any minute you fucking asshole and I hope you
get 10 years!!
Mona turns her phone off and sets it down. She is breathing very heavy. She sobs once and stares off into space.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
The next day. Mona and Natalie are on a street, and they enter a bar. There is a poster at the entrance to the bar which says "Bikini Contest Today! 2 PM. No cover!"
FADE OUT
FADE IN
Sidewalk by stores. Mona and Natalie are carrying a big pizza, a chocolate cake, chocolates, potato chips, cookies, and beer.
MONA
Well I never won, but I got my hundred bucks for entering!
NATALIE
I think you did pretty good. Lots of guys were
whistling at you. Especially that guy with his
baseball cap on sideways.
MONA
Yeah I noticed. He kept looking at my crotch.
(beat) But I didn't mind.
I just started to look at it all as an
interesting experience.
NATALIE
You are brave.
(beat)
I've never spent a hundred dollars
on junk food before!
MONA
Well why not? I've been dieting,
well actually starving,
for a week. I want to pig-out.
NATALIE
Well we can for sure.
I want some of those expensive
chocolates. And cookies.
MONA
Me too.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
Mona and Natalie are at Mona's apartment table, pigging out. They talk with their mouths full sometimes.
NATALIE
I'm probably going to gain 3 pounds by tomorrow.
MONA
Me too...... But I don't care.
NATALIE
If I have more than 5 or 6 chocolates I get pimples.
MONA
Me too, but I don't care.
(beat)
I'm gonna try a chocolate with a bite of pizza.
She puts a chocolate in her mouth and then takes a bite of pizza.
NATALIE
Me too. Is this low cal beer?
MONA
No, but I don't care.
FADE TO BLACK. Voices CONTINUE OVER BLACK.
MONA
I'm gonna have more cake.
NATALIE
Me too.
MONA
And more cookies.
NATALIE
Me too.
MONA
I fucking deserve it. I mean seriously.
NATALIE
I know. Pass me another beer.
END.
(When editing, I might change my mind and not have the screen fade to black until the last line is heard. But I think it's an interesting idea to have the final words heard on a black screen. )
NOTE: At end of credits, or maybe part way through the credits, the cast and crew will be on camera standing in a row, and say in unison, "For all the Mona's everywhere!"
There may be some other small changes here and there.
A shorter version of this song will be heard during the credits. You can listen to a longer version, here.
The songs might be used slightly differently than shown above. I will decide as I edit.
(The songs were written especially for A Wannabe Girl. I gave the songwriter a theme and a few lines for each song, and sent him links to the corresponding practice scenes to help him write the songs. This is not a regular short film!! )
I want actors and crew who appreciate that this movie has a noble purpose, and that it will inspire and give hope to some victims of rape. It might even save lives.
I want to see this short movie entered at film festivals which qualify for an Oscar. I helped an actress win a best actress award, and you can get details and watch it here.
Of course winning an Oscar is a long shot. But this movie will have a real chance to win at one of the many Oscar qualifying festivals. I am completely confident it will win one or more awards at various festivals. I have won 9 awards so far. My last music video won 4 awards. Are you ready to win an award? ANY award is good! Just getting nominated for an Oscar is good!
I want a filmmaker willing to work hard enough to win awards. I want actors who realize this is not a regular, ordinary short film, and that it has a noble purpose.
This is a character driven movie, and it will require great acting.
This story deserves actors and a filmmaker who are willing to work hard enough to win awards.
Everyone who watches it will not be inspired. Don't think of them. Think about the ones who will be inspired. And think about saving someone's life. That's what I'm thinking.
Is this story credible? Yes, it is. Below is a quote by a woman therapist who has worked with many women who were raped. She had this on her website around 2005.
"Some rape survivors may become prostitutes, strippers, sex symbols, or porn actresses, acting out sexually to release anger or to satisfy their need for revenge."
Actors and Producers and donors can get more
Can rape really lead to suicide? Definitely. Look here.
Rape and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, here.