Black: First Page
- alexanderpenn21
- Sep 13, 2020
- 2 min read
About Black
Logline: A brilliantly flawed LA professor struggles with marriage, dating and coming to terms with his mediocre life.
Type: Feature Screenplay
Pages: 108
Writers: Alexander Penn, Michael Tapakoudes
Genre: Dark Romantic Comedy
First Page
OVER BLACK:
"What's this? A great man? All I can see is the play-actor of
his own ideal."
Friedrich Nietzsche
EXT. HOLLYWOOD SIGN - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Early 1970s. The American landmark is in disrepair - spelling 'HuLLYWO D'.
EXT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS - DAY (FLASHBACK)
A sun-washed street. Beautiful houses. Palm trees. A coyote runs across the street.
A 1955 CADILLAC ELDORADO is making its way up the hill.
EXT. '55 CADILLAC - DAY (FLASHBACK)
The driver of the Cadillac is SHMULEY BLACK (55), a heavy-set Hebrew with a grey beard and square glasses.
EDEN BLACK (45), Shmuley's sweet-faced wife, is next to him. The radio is on. JOHNNY GOGO is giving his morning address:
JOHNNY GOGO (V.O.)
It's a new dawn, it's a new day folks. Hope those eggs are sliding well down your gulliver this morning. My first mellow tune transmission, before my intermission, is Ling Ting Tong, by the Five Keys, casting you back to 1955. The fabulous year when the first McDonald's opened - a happy year for all you gastronomy aficionados out there. Play the song, Maximus.
SHMULEY
I hate this song.
Before the song begins to play, Shmuley turns the radio off.
INT. '55 CADILLAC - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Eden is layering on lipstick. Shmuley is smoking. In the back seat, YOUNG ROGER BLACK (14).
EDEN
Roger, darling, have you got
everything you need for today?
YOUNG ROGER
Mama, I always have everything I
need for school. What is different
about today?
EDEN
You showed up to Rabbi Hillel's
classroom without your Yarmulke
last week. That is no way to behave
in such a prestigious school. Your
father pays too much for you to not
do what's required.
SHMULEY
I pay three thousand dollars a year
to get you off my head.
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