This is the shortened first version of a film script I created towards the end of my undergraduate studies. We had to create a sample piece of around 8-10 minutes in length that we then had to edit and submit for our final project.
2022 © D.E. Kendall
Vanity
Cast List
Karen: thirties, solicitor, keeping divorce a secret
Halley: thirties, graphic designer, in a relationship
Carrie: thirties, pub manager, single mother of one
Ina: ‘Christina’, thirties, mother of three, married
Mel: ‘Melissa’, thirties, museum curator, single
Angelo: twenties, bartender and male model, Italian
Lily: early twenties, waitress
FADE IN:
1 INT. COCKTAIL BAR. EVENING.
Busy Friday night. Dimly lit, trendy cocktail bar in Cardiff – art deco styling with decorative neon signs. LILY talking to KAREN, INA, and MEL at the bar.
LILY
I’m so sorry, Ms Leville. But I can’t show you to the booth until the rest of your party arrives.
Karen points at booth with glass, almost spilling drink.
KAREN
We’ve paid for use of that booth from seven fifteen. What time is it, now?
MEL
(looking at watch)
It’s seven thirty-five.
INA
Isn’t it proper to say twenty-five to eight? Miles is learning th-
KAREN
Typical. Halley holding us all up, yet again.
MEL
We haven’t been in the same room together for five years.
INA
Five years?!
KAREN
Doesn’t matter. Halley made us late then, and she’s at it again.
MEL
Wasn’t that the week her grandpa died?
KAREN
Can’t remember. All I know is Halley arrived so late for that reservation we had to give up the table.
(to Ina)
You were eight months pregnant with Devon, weren’t you?
INA
Yep. Had to ask for a chair. I was so big they had to–
MEL
I’ll call Carrie, find out where they are.
Mel takes mobile phone from handbag to make a call. Karen and Ina continue conversation between themselves as Mel awaits an answer.
KAREN
Wow, that phone belongs in a museum.
INA
Haven’t seen a phone like that since the nineties! I guess she does like artefacts though. Speaking of artefacts, how’s Neil?
KAREN
Fine. Another drink?
INA
(pointing at bartender)
Only if it’s on him.
Karen waves to bartender working at other end of the bar. Mel almost gives up call when it’s answered.
MEL
Hey- Yeah, we’re here. Everything okay?
(pause)
Oh, right- Mm hmm.
(pause)
No, we’re downstairs, to the right.
(pause)
Great. See you in two!
Mel ends call, then turns to Karen and Ina.
MEL (CONT’D)
They’ll be here any minute.
KAREN
Finally! About time.
INA
(turns to bartender)
Another martini, please.
ANGELO
Si, signoria. Right away.
INA
(swooning, turns to Karen)
Wow, he’s lovely. Is that him?
KAREN
(blushing)
Yeah. But I told you that in confidence, so, keep your mouth shut.
INA
Oooo. What’s he like? Dish. I want to know everything.
ANGELO slides a martini across the bar, to Ina.
INA (CONT’D)
Gracias señor.
Ina pulls the fresh martini towards herself, spilling a little, while sliding an empty glass towards Angelo – who collects empty glass and returns to serving customers lined up at the bar.
KAREN
That’s Spanish, Ina. Angelo’s Italian. God, you’re embarrassing.
2 EXT. CROWDED HIGH STREET. EVENING.
Bustling Friday night in Cardiff city centre. Streets crowded with people in superhero costumes. CARRIE and HALLEY are weaving their way through said crowds.
CARRIE
(looking at smartphone)
Oops. It’s seven thirty-five, already.
HALLEY
Seriously? Can’t believe this. Why today?
CARRIE
Not our fault the train was delayed. What the hell are all these people doing, dressed like idiots? Isn’t Halloween for, like, a month.
HALLEY
There’s some sort of comic convention in the stadium, or student union, or something.
CARRIE
How do you know that?
HALLEY
Jess is going with some work friends.
CARRIE
How’s it going? Any better?
HALLEY
Don’t ask.
CARRIE
Who books a table for seven fifteen, anyway? What was wrong with eight or eight thirty?
HALLEY
She’ll still find a way to blame me. Not looking forw-
Someone walks straight into Halley, almost knocking her off her feet as they shove her out of their way.
HALLEY (CONT’D)
Ow. Sorry, excuse me.
CARRIE
Don’t apologise! What an ars- Oh, my phone’s ringing.
Carrie looks down at the smartphone in her hand, again.
CARRIE (CONT’D)
It’s Mel.
Carrie answers call.
CARRIE (CONT’D)
Hi- Are you all there?
(pause)
Train was delayed. So sorry! Is Karen livid?
(pause)
Are you upstairs? In that bar with a-
(pause)
Ah, right. We’re just ‘round the corner. Should be two mins, tops.
Carrie slips smartphone into pocket, as she and Halley wait at crossing with hordes of other people.
HALLEY
Bet Karen blames me.
CARRIE
Don’t be like that, she won’t blame you. You read into everything. Karen’s just, well, Karen. The only thing ‘perfect’ about that woman is her Instagram feed. She’s terminally stuck-up.
HALLEY
I haven’t seen the woman in, like, two years? And I guarantee she’ll find a way to make the train delays something to do with me.
CARRIE
Come on, Hal. She’s not that bad. Karen’s just wired that way. Thinks she’s better than everyone because of her six-figure job, her boob job, her nose job, and that designer cat.
HALLEY
Okay, what was her excuse in uni, then?
Crossing lights flicker to green, Halley and Carrie are almost carried across the road by the sheep-like crowd herding them to the other side.
CARRIE
It’s not like that. She doesn’t mean to say stuff sometimes. You know it’s just-
HALLEY
Whatever. I think we’re here.
Carrie and Halley stop outside entrance to cocktail bar and look up to observe the building.
CARRIE
Looks super busy. Not exactly covid-friendly.
HALLEY
Come on, let’s get this over with.
3 INT. COCKTAIL BAR. EVENING.
Halley and Carrie greet Karen, Ina, and Mel by the bar. They exchange friendly hugs and pleasantries.
INA
(shouting, hint of drunken slur)
Lily! Lily! Over here!
MEL
(embarrassed)
She hasn’t been ‘out out’ in two years, apparently.
CARRIE
She’s always been a lightweight.
KAREN
(looking at Halley)
At least she arrives at the agreed upon time.
HALLEY
The train was delayed.
Halley looks over to Carrie with a ‘told you so’ expression. Lily approaches.
INA
(sloshing glass in direction of booth)
We’re all here, now. We’d like to go to our booth, if you please.
KAREN
(whispering to Carrie)
Who died and made her queen?
LILY
(forcing a smile)
Of course. This way.
The five friends follow Lily through the queue still crowded at the bar and navigate their way to the booth.
LILY (CONT’D)
(gesturing toward booth)
Here you are. Can I get you any drinks?
Characters clamber awkwardly around each other as they slide across immovable booth seating around a table. Takes a few seconds for group to settle into seats.
INA
(raising glass to Lily)
I’ll have another of these.
KAREN
(to Lily)
Me, too.
MEL
(nervously)
May I have a gin and tonic, please?
KAREN
(turns to Mel)
Oliver Twist, is that you?
HALLEY
(to Karen)
Leave her alone.
CARRIE
(loudly, waving)
Yoo-hoo, Emma Stone lookalike, over here!
LILY
(turns to Carrie)
Yes?
CARRIE
We’ll have two margaritas, please.
LILY
(forcing a smile, again)
Certainly. I’ll just be a moment.
Lily rushes away.
KAREN
(to Halley)
Branching out, are we?
HALLEY
(to Karen)
What?
KAREN
Well, don’t think I’ve seen you drink anything other than beer. What’s going on? Lost a bet?
HALLEY
(to Carrie)
Fancy a smoke?
CARRIE
Sure. Where’s the smoking area in this place?
MEL
(quietly)
Think it’s to the left of the entrance.
HALLEY
Thanks, Mel. Wanna join?
MEL
No, thanks. It’ll take ages to escape this seat. Plus, haven’t smoked since uni.
CARRIE
Really? That’s amazing! I’m on the vape, which I think counts as not smoking. Shame I-
KAREN
(loudly, across table)
I heard those things can be deadly. Saw an article that said-
HALLEY
(to Karen)
Thanks, Ka. Though I think Carrie’s capable of making her own decisions.
(to Carrie)
Let’s go.
Halley and Carrie awkwardly manoeuvre their way out of the booth and through the queue at the bar, towards the smoking area outside.
KAREN
(quietly to Ina)
Wow, someone forgot to take her nice person pills today.
INA
(loudly to Karen)
Need to powder my nose. Where are the loos?
MEL
(pointing)
Think they’re over there, under that huge, glowing sign saying ‘Ladies’.
INA
(leaning over to Mel)
Thanks, babe.
(to Karen)
You coming with?
KAREN
Obviously.
(to Mel)
Watch my coat, hon.
Without awaiting Mel’s response, Karen clambers out of booth, followed clumsily by Ina. They disappear through the queue at the bar, leaving Mel alone in the centre of the booth surrounded by coats and bags.
4 EXT. OUTSIDE COCKTAIL BAR ENTRANCE. EVENING.
Halley lights cigarette, taking a few drags while Carrie sets up her purple vape pen, fiddling awkwardly as she refills it. They then begin smoking/vaping.
CARRIE
I swear smoking fags was easier than this.
HALLEY
That thing smells better, though.
CARRIE
Should do, it’s blueberry. Thanks for sticking up for me with Karen.
HALLEY
Told you she’d blame me.
CARRIE
She didn’t aim that at you, I don’t think.
HALLEY
I just don’t get her problem. All I’ve ever done is support her, yet I have to take her snarky digs and homophobic comments without getting annoyed because that’s just Karen.
CARRIE
As I said, she won’t change. With her job, you can’t blame her for being a bit of a bitc-
HALLEY
Thought you were on my side, last I checked?