The Sister and the Bookie
It could happen . . . maybe.
A Short Film
FYI - Standard Script Formatting didn't hold when transferred to this site.
Story and Screenplay
By
Alan L. Foote
First, over BLACK, we hear a soft knocking/tapping on a DOOR, then . . .
SISTER 1 (VO)
Sister Arletta . . . you have mail. (Beat) Sister . . .?
SISTER ARLETTA (VO)
(Softly)
Could you please slip it under the door?
BEAT
SISTER 1 (VO)
Yes, Sister . . . are you alright?
DISSOVLE IN
1 INT / HALLWAY / NIGHT 1
In a dimly-lit hallway SISTER 1 has her ear up against the door. 40-50ish, short, a bit rotund, she looks at the letter and, bending, slips it under SISTER ARLETTA’S closed door.
2 INT / BEDROOM / NIGHT 2
CLOSE ANGLE on the LETTER as it slides under the door. CAMERA TILT UP to expose SISTER ARLETTA, 30’s, petite, kneeling at her bedside. The interior is softly-lit. Its contents include a single bed, a night stand, over-stuffed chair and noticeably, lacy curtained windows supported by a soft, welcoming window-seat. STREET LIGHT feathers in the edges of the honey colored light that finds its home in the small, cozy second-story apartment/bedroom.
ANGLE ON SISTER ARLETTA
She has been praying. She waits momentarily as if to not be distracted again – then bows her head and continues . . .
SISTER ARLETTA
I love you Father – please bless my dear family and, oh,
please let me always be aware of the service thou
would have me freely give to they children here upon
the earth . . . amen.
Sister Arletta pauses for a moment and then rises and moves to the door. Picking up the letter, she tears at the envelope while moving slowly but resolutely toward the window-seat. Before she can sit, a ten dollar bill falls from the envelope and floats as an autumn leaf on a warm breeze, finally resting ever-so-gently on the floor near her feet.
Sister Arletta picks up the bill and makes herself comfortable on the window seat. We notice that the street below is illuminated by a STREET LAMP. She begins to read . . .
SISTER ARLETTA
(Reading)
“My loving daughter . . . (her emotions begin
to over-whelm her) I know this isn’t much. Please
know how your father and I love and miss you.
Mom
As Sister Arletta reads, the CAMERA pushes THROUGH THE WINDOW and we see a BEDRAGGLED, ELDERLY GENTLEMAN, 60ish, dressed for the chilly evening. He moves to stand underneath the street light.
CUT TO
3 EXT / BEDROOM / NIGHT 3
REVERSE ANGLE through the WINDOW. Sister Arletta looks questioningly at the ten dollar bill and then out of the window in the direction of the elderly gentleman.
BEAT
She Rises
4 INT / BEDROOM / NIGHT 4
Sister Arletta moves to her night stand. She opens the top drawer and removes a notepad and pencil. She sits on the edge of her bed and smiles warmly to herself.
4 / INT / BEDROOM / NIGHT / CONT 4
CLOSE on pencil and paper as she writes. . .
SISTER ARLETTA
(Speaking as she writes)
“Don’t Despair.” signed, Sister Arletta.
ANOTHER ANGLE AS
Sister Arletta folds the ten dollar bill tightly into the note. Searching the drawer she finds a large rubber-band. She wraps it tightly around the note and its contents and walks back to the window. She begins to open the window . . .
CUT TO
5 EXT / BEDROOM / NIGHT 5
ANGLE of the second story bedroom as we see Sister Arletta open the window.
MED CLOSE as Sister Arletta tries to get the attention of the man below.
SISTER ARLETTA
(Yelling)
Excuse me, sir! . . . (Louder) Excuse me!!
ANGLE ON THE DISHEVELD MAN as he turns his attention to Sister Arletta. She THROWS her gift as best she can. It lands near the house; not nearly as far as she had hoped – actually, just barely clearing the bushes. The old man hesitates for a moment. He looks around to see if anyone is watching and then approaches the note with some hesitancy.
CLOSE ANGLE / Sister Arletta, MAN’S POV as she encourages him to pick it up. He does – unwraps the note . . .
ANGLE on the man as he whispers aloud . . .
MAN (reading)
“Don’t Despair.” (Beat) Sister Arletta.
5 EXT / BEDROOM / NIGHT / CONT 5
The old man turns his gaze upward toward Sister Arletta. He is obviously puzzled. (Long beat) He finally acknowledges that he understands. Nodding his head he turns to walk away.
ANGLE Sister Arletta POV as she watch’s the elderly man disappear into the night.
6 INT / BEDROOM / NIGHT 6
Closing the window, Sister Arletta sits content in her obvious caring and generosity.
DISSOLVE TO
7 EXT / FRONT PORCH / NEXT DAY 7
CLOSE ANGLE on front door. A man’s hand ENTERS FRAME and knocks . . . knocks again.
The door is opened by SISTER 1
SISTER 1
(Warmly)
Can I help you?
MAN’S VOICE
Sister Arletta, please . . .
SISTER 1
(Puzzled)
Won’t you please come in?
The man steps in. We see him only from the back. THE DOOR CLOSES.
8 INT / SISTER ARLETTA’S BEDROOM / FOYER / DAY 8
Sister Arletta sits at her table writing in a diary. We hear a KNOCK .
SISTER 1
(Through the door)
Sister Arletta, you have a man . . . ah, I mean
you have a visitor.
SISTER ARLETTA
I’ll be right down.
CAMERA FOLLOWS as Sister Arletta rises, setting her diary aside. She opens the door and stepping out in to the hall she begins down the stairs. As she continues down, the MAN IN THE FOYER is slowly revealed – step by step.
FINALLY – As Sister Arletta reaches the bottom of the stairs, we see that it is the SAME MAN as we saw the night before. He is dressed up as best as he can – and seems a bit self-conscious about his appearance before these two Sisters. He reaches into his pants pocket.
ANGLE on Sister Arletta. She is confused. We can see that Sister 1 is lurking curiously nearby.
ANGLE on the man as he pulls from his pocket a handful of twenties - $100.00 total.
ANGLE on the man and Sister Arletta as the man hands her the bills. Sister Arletta is shocked – Sister 1 gasps, revealing her presence.
ANGLE on the man.
MAN (Proudly)
Here’s the hundred, I owe ya . . .
ANGLE on Sister Arletta
8 INT / FOYER / DAY / CONT 8
SISTER ARLETTA
But, you don’t . . . . One Hundred . . . Dollars?
SISTER 1
(Whispering excitedly)
Hundred dollars . . . that’s what he said . . . one hundred (beat) dollars.
MAN
Guess I could have kept it – but it wouldn’t seem
right, you bein’ a Sister and all . . . ‘Don’t Despair?’
Your horse . . . paid 10 to 1 . . . imagine that, 10 to
1 . . . well, don’t go spendin’ it all in one place, Sister.
HIGH ANGLE as the man leaves and pulls the door shut. Sister Arletta and Sister 1 just look at each other.
9 EXT / FRONT PORCH / DAY 9
The man stands on the front porch for a moment. His expression changes noticeably from a tough-guy grimace to a broad ‘I really did something good’ smile. He steps off the porch and as he moves down the sidewalk we hear the SISTERS SQUEALING from the inside.
SISTER ARLETTA (VO)
It’s a miracle!
SISTER 1 (VO)
Who was that guy?!! What did he mean, “Don’t
Despair paid 10 to 1?
SISTER ARLETTA (VO)
God moves in mysterious ways, sister . . .
SISTER 1 (VO)
I didn’t know you had a horse . . . ?
FADE OUT
Used by Permission Only