Malak Souidan

Screen play:

 

A small apartment in the city, sparsely decorated. It’s the home of Samantha, a young woman in her mid-20s who has recently moved away from her family to pursue her dream job, which is becoming a writer.

INT.APARTEMENT:

(The apartment is quiet. Samantha sits at her desk, staring at a blank screen, frustrated. There’s a knock at the door. She sighs, then stands to answer).

SAMANTHA:

(annoyed)

I swear, if it’s Jenna again telling me I should get a job at the coffee shop, I’m going to scream.

(She opens the door to reveal her mother, Carol (50s) standing behind the door with a large bag of groceries)

CAROL

Oh my god, you look like you haven’t eaten in a week.

SAMANTHA

(defensively)

Oh god, I’m fine, I have a lot of things to do.

CAROL

 (entering with a frown on her face)

Do you have a lot of things to do? What things? I’m sick of it now. I feel like you are just giving me excuses to escape reality.

 

SAMANTHA

(voice cracking)

No, I’m not avoiding anything. I’m writing. My job now. I write.

CAROL

(sitting down)

Oh yes writing, and how is that going for you?

SAMANTHA

(yelling)

Well great, living my dream, that no one believes in

CAROL

(calmingly)

Well, Samantha, I am concerned and it’s my right to do that and you don’t have to be rude like that. I am supportive and I do believe in you.

SAMANTHA:

I’m sorry Mom, it’s just too much going on and it’s stressing me out, with you on top of my head, I felt like I needed to yell.

CAROL:

Honey, I want to support you, but you must help us too, do not avoid me, and start picking up my calls a little more, I will support you.

As they both were quiet for a good 2 seconds someone knocked on the door

As Samantha was walking to the door

Samantha:

I swear if it’s Jenna

(As she opens the door, to reveal who, it is her dad)

Hey Dad, how was work

JOHN:

(sarcastic)

Hey, are you still alive?

SAMANTHA:

Surviving, and why is everyone checking on me, I just got busy with work.

JOHN:

How is writing?

Samantha:

You mean, my job yeah, it’s going well

JOHN:

(laughing)

Yeah, your job.

(sighs)

When are you going to find a real job? Where you work for a specific time, at least we can see you more often.

SAMANTHA:

Here we go again, how many times are we going to discuss this topic? I have a dream job. It needs patience and work, and I will get there someday

I Need support from you guys, to make it possible how do you think I would feel that you guys are not supportive enough?

(Breaking down)

Carol:

 We are supportive. But we will always tell you what’s good for you. You can have another job alongside writing. Which then will save you time and money.

JOHN:

She’s right

SAMANTHA:

I want to focus on this job only, I do not see myself in any field I’ve tried and you guys saw that.

Carol and John were silent as they were thinking about it. Even though they were still stubborn with their opinion about it, they wanted to understand her and support her

JOHN:

You know, you remind me of my dad, he always insisted on everything he wanted to do.

CAROL:

She does

SAMANTHA:

I think I’ll take that as a compliment, and I will keep on chasing this dream. And I’ll make sure I will make you both proud one day

Reflection:

The theme of this script is the tension between ambition and familial loyalty. I like this topic as I see lots of my friends go through that, which is a hard decision the parents are usually seeking a better future for their kids, but at the same time the child has a dream job that might not meet the parents’ expectations. I feel like I do enjoy writing these scripts even though I struggle a bit with writing in general, but I usually picture it as if I’m watching a scene and writing what comes to my mind. I feel like usually at the end when I need to wrap up or to decide how it’s going to end, I find it difficult. I think I would change the ending. I hope my audience will be emotional, which Samantha felt emotional in most of the scene, and get her point. and empathy, to understand the conflict she’s facing.