Act One - The Begining

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - EARLY MORNING

Jim works at a convenience store as a cashier.  He is currently staring at his horoscope on the newspaper and smirks at what it says.  His horoscope reads:  The Happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.  A BELL chimes signalling a customer stepping in.  


Jim looks up to see the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

PAM heads straight for the ice cream freezer and opens it, looking for something to eat.  She digs out a few ice cream cups, then has a second thought and pulls out instead a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream.  She sighs, then lifts it up and heads to the counter.

Jim quickly tries to look nonchalant, even as he stares at her face intently.

JIM

Anything else?

Pam stares at him, as if he said something insensitive.  Jim tried to make up for it.

JIM

I mean... we have cones.  Or marshmallows...

PAM

Marshmallows?

JIM

In case you want.. other.. toppings...

PAM

If I wanted toppings, I wouldn't have gotten Vanilla Ice Cream.

Jim makes a face, clearly amused but at the same time embarrassed to have suggested something so stupid. Pam sees the face and that moment realizes he's actually kinda cute.

JIM(as he keys in the purchase)

Bad day?

PAM (hands out money to pay)

That obvious, huh?

JIM

Well, that is half a gallon of Ice Cream.

PAM (a bit more amused now)

Who's to say I'm not getting it for a group of friends...

JIM

Girlfriends?

PAM

Yeah, girlfriends, who happen to like eating ice cream-

JIM

This early in the morning.

PAM

Yes!  This early in the morning.

JIM doesn't respond.  They stare at each other for a moment. Slowly, they begin to smile. Jim takes a deep breath, clearly about to ask her something when suddenly UNCHAINED MELODY plays. PAM irritatedly pulls out her cellphone and stares at it.  

PAM (distracted)

Yeah... this early in the morning.

JIM

Bad day?

PAM looks up.  She looks genuinely surprised Jim understands.  Jim again gives a half-smile.  

PAM

Yeah...

PAM cancels the call.

PAM

Bad day.

The two have a moment of silence.  Slowly they both smile.  Jim struggles to find something to say and instead hands her the change.

PAM

Maybe I will have some marshmallows.

JIM beams. He quickly heads out of the counter and walks towards a shelf where the candies and other snacks are. PAM follows him, watching amusedly as he tries to locate the marshmallows.

JIM

Okay.. marshmallows.  I... know they're there somewhere.  

PAM (noticing Jim can't find the marshmallows)

Chocolates would be nice.

JIM

Chocolates would be nicer.  Dark or Milk?

PAM

What would you recommend?

JIM

Well, if you're having a really bad day, I'd say dark chocolates would be better. They have this way of making one feel special.

UNCHAINED MELODY once again plays. Pam and Jim end up staring at each other and smiling.

JIM

Definitely a bad day.

PAM

Yes!

JIM grabs a dark chocolate bar and hands it to Pam. The two once again stop for a moment, as if there's something that's starting to happen. This time, it is Pam who breaks the silence.

PAM

I guess that's it.

JIM

That's it.

The two return to the counter. JIM slides the chocolate into the bag with the ice cream and hands it to her.  

PAM

You didn't punch that in.

JIM

You're having a bad day.  It's on me.

PAM

Are you serious?

JIM

Least I could do, considering we actually don't have marshmallows.  I just want you and your girlfriends to have a great morning.

PAM

The ice cream is just for me.

JIM

I figured.

PAM

But you know, I think I actually will enjoy it more now.

JIM (motions at the cellphone)

He doesn't like ice cream?

PAM

He's through.

JIM

Ah.

PAM

But you know, thanks.

JIM

For what?

PAM

The suggestion.  And for making me feel better today.

JIM

Happy to have helped.

PAM

I better go.

The two linger again at the counter, not saying anything. PAM sighs. JIM hesitates, then reaches for his cellphone.  Pam decides to give her number the same moment Jim decides to ask for it.

PAM and JIM

Listen...

UNCHAINED MELODY plays again. This time, the two break out into laughter.

JIM

I'm sorry.  I know this is a bad time...

PAM

No... well, yes.  But...

JIM

Can I have...

PAM

Here's my number.  

PAM punches in her number into JIM's cellphone. Pam hands it back to him and grabs her things.

PAM 

It has been a terribly bad day.   But this... this was good.

JIM

Yeah.

PAM

Tomorrow.  Let's try tomorrow.

JIM

What do you mean?

PAM

Call me.  Tomorrow.  We can meet up.

JIM

I'd like that.

PAM

Maybe tomorrow won't be a bad day.

JIM (motioning towards the cellphone)

What about-

PAM

Oh, he's so over.  Been over for months.  But refuses to stop calling.  It is pathetic, really.

JIM

I've been that.

PAM smiles.

JIM

So... tomorrow?

PAM

Call me.

JIM

Okay.  Tomorrow.

PAM

It's a date.

PAM heads for the door. JIM looks at the phone and sees her name on it: Pam. He looks up and she's already gone.

JIM (smiling)

It's a date.

Act One - The Begining - Part 2

INT. JIM'S ROOM - EARLY MORNING

Jim's room is a mess of geek stuff, blank DVDs, and books.  On one wall, a collector's replica of a LIGHTSABER is on display.  There is a TELEVISION with a PS3 on one side.   The laptop near Jim's bed turns itself on at 9am and begins to play music. JIM wakes up to a wonderful morning.  He leaps out of bed, grabs his cellphone and loads up PAM's number.  He smiles.

JIM stands up from his bed and dials the number.  While it tries to connect, Jim heads to the bathroom, switches the phone to speaker, sets it down by the toilet as he washes his face real quick.  He grabs the toothpaste and rinses his brush.

PAM (through phone)

Hello?

JIM 

Hey!  Good morning.

You... gave me your number last night?

JIM slides the toothbrush into his mouth and begins to brush.  He starts to notice the long delay.

PAM(through phone)

I'm sorry...

JIM

No no no... Wait, I'm sorry.  I just wanted...

Wait.

PAM(through phone)

The ice cream guy.

JIM

Yes!  The ice cream guy!

PAM(through phone)

Right, I never got your name.

JIM

It's-

PAM(through phone)

No!  Let's save it for later.

JIM

Oookay...

JIM spits out a mouthful of bubbles.

PAM(through phone)

I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.

JIM

Oh no.. my bad.  I was just... brushing.. anxious.. 

Wait.

JIM quickly rinses with water.  PAM chuckles from her end, clearly having heard it.

PAM(through phone)

Oh my... are you brushing your teeth right now?

JIM

Alright.. you caught me.

PAM(through phone)

Someone's pretty excited.

JIM

Me?  Excited?  No, more like just multi-tasking.

PAM(through phone)

I did ask you to call me.

JIM

Yes, you did.

(a beat)

Unless this is still a bad time?

PAM(through phone)

That would require even more ice cream.

JIM

Probably a full gallon.

JIM looks up, seeing his reflection on the mirror.  He sheepishly grins.  It is clear he's very amused how this is going.

PAM(through phone)

So, how is your morning so far?

JIM

Pretty good.  Woke up from an interesting dream.  

PAM(through phone)

What kind?

JIM walks back to his room and sits on the chair by the bed.  He muses about his dream.

JIM 

It was a strange action movie.  Lots of things moving in slow motion.

PAM(through phone)

Dreams have never been the same since The Matrix, huh?

JIM

Didn't make much sense though.  Just like the next two movies.

PAM(through phone)

There were other movies after the first?

They share a laugh.  JIM reaches for a BAG OF MARSHMALLOWS on his desk.  He smiles.

PAM(through phone)

So, brunch...

JIM

Oh wait.  I haven't asked you how your morning has been so far?

PAM(through phone)

Oh haven't slept.  Been working all night.

JIM

Yikes!

PAM(through phone)

Yeah, too many clients with strange requests.  Chains and whips and rubber ball gags.

JIM

Whaaat?

PAM(through phone)

I'm kidding.  I work at a call center.  Helps pays the rent while waiting for a bigger project.

JIM

You're crazy.  But isn't that worse?

PAM(through phone)

Not when you have ice cream to keep you sane.

JIM moves the BAG OF MARSHMALLOWS to a spot beside his WALLET and KEYS to make sure he remembers to bring it.  He heads to his CLOSET and pulls out a shirt to wear.

JIM

So, brunch.

PAM(through phone)

Yeah, brunch.

JIM

Where will you be coming from?

PAM(through phone)

Sneaky.  We haven't really met yet and you're already asking me where I live!

JIM

No! I- (smirks)

PAM(through phone)

I knew I should be careful of guys like you.

JIM (amused)

Guys like what?

PAM(through phone)

Ice cream pushers.

Or convenience store cashiers.

JIM

Ah yes.

They make reality shows based on us.

PAM(through phone)

Ortigas would be fine.

(a beat)

Unless that's too far for you?

JIM reaches for the venetian blinds of the window.  He peeks between the blinds to reveal the view outside, showing buildings (suggesting he's near Ortigas).  

JIM

No, Ortigas would be great.
See you then!

JIM closes the phone and just stares outside, seeing the possibilities ahead.  He cannot help but smile.

JIM then notices some smoke, and pushes the blinds wider open to see the streets as well.  There are hundreds of people running around and being chased.  A car suddenly crashes into another.  A helicopter appears and Jim can see the army on it, with guns ready.   

JIM peers down at the street and sees people attacking others.  ZOMBIES!  Jim blinks a few times and tries to make sense of what's happening.

JIM

No... way...

FADE TO BLACK

CUT TO CUE CARD

WHITE TEXT

Three Days Later

INT. JIM'S ROOM - LATE EVENING


The TELEVISION is on.  We see a politician on the screen talking to a large gathering of people.  People are cheering.

Politician (Television)

...have survived the zombie apocalypse!  We have forced the dead back into the earth! We are alive!

JIM is sitting on his bed.  His face and arms are caked with dried blood and brain bits.  The replica LIGHTSABER is now broken in his arms.  The DVDs are broken and shattered.  The PS3 is smashed in one side.  The windows are broken open.  He doesn't notice however. All he notices is the cellphone in his hand.

SFX:

The number you dialed cannot be reached or is out of the coverage area... please try again later...

JIM lies back down onto his bed.  Exhausted.  A BAG OF MARSHMALLOWS still in his other hand.

Introduction

EXT. SUNKEN GARDEN - EVENING

People are all hanging around in the park.    Many are hanging around in groups.  Others are just standing as couples.   There is a festive feeling in the air.   The scene is colorful and cheery.  People seem to be all waiting for something.   JIM is walking alone, with his hands in his pockets.  He holds his head down, ignoring the people who are laughing or sharing stories.  

JIM (voice over)

Sometimes, I wonder why life feels like a movie.   Sometimes I wonder why things happen to us the way they do.   Shakespeare said it best: All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts.

EXT.  SUNKEN GARDEN, UNDER TREE - EVENING

Jim walks past a GROUP OF FRIENDS who are currently sitting in a circle.  The group is clearly having fun, with one telling jokes while the others laugh along with him.   The JOKER is acting like a fool, miming GODZILLA stomping on buildings.  The others laugh out loud.  Jim notices the LOVING COUPLE who are amused, but clearly are more occupied with holding each other close.  It is clear on Jim's face how envious he is of them.

JIM (voice over)

But sometimes I wonder, who decides what kind of movie we are in.   Who decides if we're supposed to be actors in a comedy.  Or an action-flick.  Who decides if we're the leads of a romantic comedy or a survival horror thriller. 

JOKER roars out loud, and attacks himself with his hands, mimicking KING KONG being assaulted by helicopters.   The groups laughs so loudly that Jim almost smiles.  The LOVING COUPLE notices him and smiles.  Jim forces a smile out then continues walking.

EXT. SUNKEN GARDEN, CANDLE AREA - EVENING

Jim approaches an area where many candles are currently lit.  There are flowers and photographs set near the candles, like a MEMORIAL of some sort.  Some of the pictures show adults, children, even pets.   The people here are more somber.  Quieter.  

JIM (voice over)

I used to think I lived in a romantic comedy.  Or rather, I really wanted to believe I was in one.  But I guess I was wrong.   

Jim walks up towards the MEMORIAL.  He bends down to look at some of the pictures.  He sees a picture of a HAPPY COUPLE.   Jim stares at it.

JIM(voice over)

It was all just a case of bad timing, I guess.