Scrabblers: Episode One
noun: those who scratch or scramble for something
by
tInt. scene - description



JACK
You know, I know it sounds stupid but before a tournament I just see everything in words.
SHOT - JACK WALKS OUT OF STARBUCKS WITH A COFFEE
#COFFEE 12 points#
SHOT - JACK WORKING AT STORE BEING YELLED AT BY CUSTOMER
#CUSTOMER 12 points#
SHOT - SUPERVISOR COMES ALONG MOTIONS LIKE HE IS GOING TO HELP JACK BUT JUST YELLS AT HIM INSTEAD
#ENNUI 5 points#
JACK
It’s just one hundred small tiles but with them you can write fourteen thousand possible words. And when you get the right tiles, the right word at the write time. Those tiles mean you win.

TITLE SCREEN - Scrolling through the dictionary up to the definition of Scrabblers


shot - description
Community hall filled with around 20 scrabble participants, tea and biscuits are being served before the big game. Most participants are old ladies but a few eccentric mid 20s people are in on the action. One woman is making an announcement.


ORGANISER





Jack
Like love, scrabble is a game of communication, every move has some kind of meaning attached. Also like love, sometimes you get to choose your partners but mostly you just get matched up on a printout.

SHOT - THE PRINTOUT OF ROUND ONE MATCHES #JACK vs LESTAT


ext. scene - description
Tables are arranged by rank and file. On each table is a scrabble board, lazy susan, chess clock pens, paper scoresheets and the tile bag. The tiles are laid out in alphabetical order on a sheet of paper. Two people sit at each table. Somewhere in the mix are Jack and Lestat.
ORGANISER
Ladies and Gentlemen, the rules are twenty-five minutes each. Before we start i need a verbal confirmation from each of you that the set of tiles in front of you is full and complete.
PLAYER ONE
complete
PLAYER TWO
complete
(etc)

JACK
complete #winks at organiser#
#Lestat counts the tiles at an irritatingly slow pace.

JACK
C’mon mate

LESTER
I have a right to confirm that all the pieces are here. Free from tampering and malfeasance.
JACK
Malfeasance
LESTER
yes
JACK
really?
LESTER
yes

JACK
Do you think i broke in last night to add an extra A to the set.
LESTER
I would have noticed that, but maybe you took an A and replaced it with an E to throw me off my game. I might have done the same in your position.


#LESTER HOLDS UP A COPY OF THE ART OF WAR maybe some traditional green tea in other hand#

LESTER
In the art of war sun tzu says that all war is deception. I had to be prepared for Jack’s deception.
It goes on to say in chariot fighting, when ten or more chariots have been taken, Our own flags should be substituted for those of the enemy, and the chariots mingled and used in conjunction with ours. Hmmmm. #eyeball camera#

#back to scrabble game, LESTER HAS A COIN#

JACK
Heads
LESTER
Wait till I flip it
#flips the coin and catches it - long pause#
JACK
Heads
LESTER
Okay you can start
#puts coin back in pocket with grimace without showing it#

#montage of a scrabble game action is muted but characters perform actions which display their character#

JACK
The worst thing about Lester,and there’s a lot of things i could say, but the trully intolerable thing about him... is that he’s actually really good at this.

#Lester plays the winning word beaming#
#Jack puts head in hands in frustration#
LESTER
#with his tea again#
Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.

CASEY
Hey I like your cute teapot

#pan to absurdly bimbo-hot casey#

LESTER
(sheepishly) Its a chinese warrior herb urn

****************



*****************
ORGANISER
#bell# Ladies and gentlemen, round one is now concluded. Please hand up your score sheets. Tea and bicuits will be served in the break room while the computer matches up the players for round two.

#shot of various tea and biscuit munchers#
#Lester wait anxiously for the printout watching it creep out of the printer his eyes dash back and forth tennis game style in anticipation. He rips it out as it finishes and dashes into the break room.

LESTER
Hey Jack do you like apples
JACK
Not really
LESTER
Hey Edith do you like apples
EDITH
Mine need to be mashed through the... through the food p*rocessor so that i don’t have to chew
LESTER
<*interrupting> Well I’m playing the hot girl how do you like them apples!

#All turn to Casey making tea in the corner, #
CASEY
I Made a necklace of my favorite letters- C-A-S-E-Y CASEY #claps herself#
JACK
That poor poor girl
LESTER (secretively to JacK)
I got this from the internet, concentrated bull pheromones
#sprays in the air then prances through the mist#
JACK
You know that smells exactly like i thought it would.

*************

ROUND TWO (CASEY VS LESTER)