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.