Just Read

INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM – EVENING

JAKE sits on the floor, sipping from a red cup and flipping through a script. He’s dressed casually in sweatpants and a polo t-shirt that don’t match or coordinate with one another. He is surrounded by a few of his actor friends sitting in a circle on the floor, copies of the same script in each lap, ready to do a read-through of his first finished script. CHARLIE is sitting to Jake’s right.

 

CHARLIE

I don’t see the sex scene. Didn’t you say you were going to

add a sex scene?

 

JAKE

What? Oh – I don’t know. Maybe. Everyone have all the pages?

 

THE GROUP murmurs confirmation. ABBY is next to Charlie, drinking white wine out of a proper glass, and has her legs out in front of her crossed one over the other.

 

ABBY

Am I playing the main girl?

 

JAKE

There are a few different – uh – main girls.

 

ABBY

Well am I at least one of them?

 

Next to Abby, FRANCESCA is twirling her long necklace with one hand and feeding herself small pretzels from a cup in front of her with the other.

 

FRANCESCA

I think I’m playing Lilly. Is that right, Jake? Lilly? I think

that’s what you told me in the email. I really need to read

more carefully.

 

JAKE

Yeah, Franny, you’re Lilly. Abby, you’re playing Penelope.

 

ABBY

Ick. Not your best name choice, Jakey. How about –

 

JAKE

I think we’re going to table any name-change suggestions for

now.

 

KYLE, Jake’s ex-boyfriend, is sitting to Francesca’s right, reviewing the script through whispers with his roommate, GRACE. Both are eating chips out of a bag in Grace’s purse.

 

GRACE

Can I just ask: why is Lilly even with Adam? He’s abusive. For

you first script – I just don’t know how well that’ll be received.

It kind of turns me off to the whole thing. Anyone else?

 

KYLE

I agree. I don’t see how this is even the same storyline as we

discussed – you know, a few months back. Remember? When

we were in Palm Springs?

 

CHARLIE

Wait. Did you two date?

 

JAKE

Guys, since it’s 8:35, I really feel like we should start reading.

 

KYLE

Yeah Charlie, we did – for a while last year.

 

ABBY

Oooh, interesting! Wow, Jakey, I’m surprised you invited him

here.

 

FRANCESCA

He obviously felt confortable enough. I’m sure there’s no bad

blood there.

 

CHARLIE

Or some unresolved feelings.

 

GRACE

I’ve been saying that since we got this invite!

 

JAKE

Please, guys. Can we just do the read-through and chat about

all this later?

 

KYLE

Fine, let’s talk about the script. I think it’s weird how you cast

me as Lilly’s douchebag boyfriend.

 

FRANCESCA

I don’t think he’s abusive. Jake, is he meant to be abusive? I

don’t see anything about abuse anywhere? Oh, or did you

mean verbally abusive? Is that his thing?

 

GRACE

His “thing?” What does that even mean? He literally tears her

down the entire movie and you’re wondering if that’s his

thing?”

 

ABBY

I don’t know – Lilly sounds pretty whiny.

 

GRACE

Oh, cool. So glad you have friends that condone the abuse you

write about, Jake.

 

FRANCESCA

Well if it’s an artistic choice to add in a dysfunctional

relationship, that’s his prerogative.

 

CHARLIE

True, but Jake’s been known to make pretty poor choices.

 

JAKE

Okay, awesome, fuck every single one of you. I was afraid this

was going to happen but then I thought, no, they’re more

mature than that. They’re adults. This is fucking over.

 

HANNAH is sitting in between Jake and Grace, still flipping through the script. She takes the headphones out of her ears.

 

HANNAH

Oh sorry, are we starting? Hey Jake, it looks like you took out

that sex scene – what gives?

 

FIN.