Casting Couch

by
Ed Love

ed@edlovefilms.com
+61-411-111-816
FADE IN:

INT. OFFICE - DAY

Two women sit behind a desk, next to a large couch.
SUSAN, brunette, late 40s, well dressed, studies resumes,
next to a pile of actor head shots. She looks stressed.

MARY, blond, well built, late 30s, sits next to her. She
plays with her mobile phone. She looks bored.
They are startled by a knock on the door.

SUSAN
Come in.
JOHN, good looking, wearing specs, in good shape, late 30s,
opens the door, strides into the room.

He’s dressed in jeans, an open neck shirt, a gold chain

around his neck.
Susan perks up, eyes him up and down.
SUSAN
Shut the door, will you?
John turns around, heads back, shuts the door.
Susan admires his butt. She plays with her hair.

He returns, plonks down at one end of the couch.

SUSAN
Mary, get some milk for the coffee
from next door. We’re nearly out.

MARY
We still got nearly a whole carton!
SUSAN
We’ve got a lot of talent coming in
today, so we’d better have plenty.
Mary opens her mouth. Susan glares.
Mary pouts, trudges off, slams the door behind her.

SUSAN
Sorry about that. Thanks for coming
along today. What’s your name?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

JOHN
John. It’s very nice to meet you.

He bounced up, extends his hand. Susan rises.

She takes his hand in both of hers, releases it.
She smiles. He does the same. He sits.

She settles down at the other end of the couch.

JOHN
I just love this part. It really
speaks to me. What would it take to
get it? I’d do absolutely anything.

SUSAN
Would you?
JOHN
Yes. Anything.

SUSAN
I bet you say that to all the
casting directors.
Susan inches towards John. He turns off his phone.

She reaches towards his face, removes his specs.

Frowns.
Replaces them on his face.

She uncrosses her legs. He leans back on the couch.

SUSAN
It’s hard seeing all these actors
every day, having to turn down so
many. It’s really getting to me.
JOHN
What?

SUSAN
My shoulders are aching like hell,
I always hold tension there. Could
you give them a rub for me?
JOHN
My pleasure.
He leans forward, starts messaging.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

SUSAN
Ah, that’s better. Harder. Harder.
She turns around so he is directly behind her.
SUSAN
You wouldn’t believe the pressure
I’m under! I’ve got to cast the
whole film by Friday. It’s madness!
JOHN
Isn’t that your job?
SUSAN
Mom says I should stand up to Phil,
ask for more time. But he’d just
fire me! I really need this job.

She tears up.

JOHN
I only came in to audition.

SUSAN
It’s so unfair. He gets all the
credit and I sdo all the work. Have
you any idea the hours I put in?
JOHN
That’s what you get paid for!
SUSAN
Whose side are you on? Do you want
to get this role or not?

She sobs.
SUSAN
And Mom says I should be married by
now. Or at least engaged. She wants
grandchildren, and she’s always
going on about my biological clock.
John strokes her hair.
JOHN
It’s your life, make your own
choices. Don’t listen to her.
SUSAN
Don’t you have a go at her, she’s
been a wonderful mother to me!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

JOHN
But you just said --

SUSAN
And my ex keeps lying about me to
all my girlfriends, and they
believe him instead of me!
She breaks down, weeps.

JOHN
It’s ok. Let it all out. Are you
sure they’re really your friends if
they believe him instead of you?

SUSAN
Of course they’re my friends! Are
you trying to turn me against them?
JOHN
Of course not! I’m just --

SUSAN
And Mum says Dad never really
wanted me, they only got married
because she was pregnant!

Susan contracts into a fetal position, balls her eyes out.

JOHN
I’m sure they both really love you.

SUSAN
How would you know? You only say
that because you want the part!
JOHN
Look, is it, well, you know ...

SUSAN
Is it what?
JOHN
That time of the month?

Susan screams.
John puts his hands over his ears, shakes his head.
He lowers his hand, hesitates, strokes her face.

She relaxes, her breathing slows down.

She sits up, dries her eyes with a handkerchief.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

She blows her nose loudly, gets to her feet.

John stands up, watches her.

JOHN
You ok now?
SUSAN
No.

SUSAN
Can I have a hug?
John pauses, embraces her. She relaxes into his arms,
breathes deeply, tenses up, breaks free.

She walks back, sits down behind the desk.

The door opens, Mary shuffles in with the milk. She puts it
on the desk, drops into the chair.

Susan adjusts her hair, straightens her blouse.

Mary watches with disgust.
SUSAN
Which role are you reading for?

JOHN
The sympathetic boyfriend.
SUSAN
Well, we’re doing it differently
this time. You’ve just had your
audition. We’ll get back to you
next week. Thanks for coming.
John is stunned. He gets up, leaves. SLAM!

MARY
So?
SUSAN
Dreadful. He tried hard, but
really, he didn’t have a clue.
Mary notices a cell phone on the couch.
MARY
Look what he gone and forgot.

She pushes her chair back. Susan jumps up, grabs it.
The door opens. John. He looks serious.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

SUSAN
You forgot your phone.
JOHN
Sit down, please.

SUSAN
What? You can’t just --
JOHN
Sit down.

She sits.
JOHN
There have been complaints.

Mary looks away.

SUSAN
What do you mean?
JOHN
As executive producer, I came in
today to find out for myself.
Susan’s mouth drops.
JOHN
Can you explain your behavior?
SUSAN
I was trying something different.
JOHN
Come with me now. Mary, take over.
Susan turns to Mary, who can’t resist a satisfied smirk.
JOHN
This is all most unorthodox.
However, I like your idea. Let’s
discuss it over lunch, shall we?
Susan is gob smacked.

JOHN
Next time, check with us first. Ok?
Susan nods, flashes a look at Mary, follows him out.
FADE OUT.