I thought you ought to see this . . .
Scene 1 EXT. BROOKLYN STREET -- AFTERNOON
In a pair of short shorts that are one size too small for
her, JESSICA, 11, walks up the street on her way home from
the shops. It's the summer holidays and she's bored. When she reaches
her apartment building she looks in her mailbox. Most of the
letters are bills addressed to her Mother, but there's one
that looks more interesting. It's an appeal from Africa Eats.
She opens the letter and reads it. A big title
reads, 'Please get involved. The money you raise could make a
huge difference.'
Scene 2 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- MORNING
The next morning JESSICA sets up a kissing booth on the
corner of her street. Her stall reads 'Kiss for $1' and 'Help
me raise money for starving children'.
A group of TEENAGE BOYS is hanging out nearby. They come over
and look at the stall and laugh. SARAH, 14, also comes over.
She snarls at Jessica. Jessica sinks deeper into her chair
and pretends to read her Teen Magazine.
From across the street, ASHLEY, who is another outcast, is
watching the scene from her apartment window. Jessica doesn't
notice.
Scene 3 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- MORNING
An hour has passed. The group of BOYS comes up to the booth.
BOY ONE puts a dollar down. JESSICA nervously stands up. She
leans over the makeshift counter, closes her eyes, and
puckers up to give him a kiss. When she isn't looking, the
boy stands on a crate and turns around. He bends over and
places his bottom in her face. He farts. One of his friends
takes a Polaroid picture. Jessica opens her eyes. She looks
shocked and then dejected. The boys laugh loudly as they walk
away. She slumps into her chair and covers her red face with
her magazine.
Scene 4 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- MORNING
Her next customer is a fat, middle aged MAN. He puts $20 on
her stand and looks at the young girl eagerly. He has to bend
down to reach her. JESSICA looks uncomfortable and unsure,
but before she has a chance to pull away he's given her a
sloppy kiss. He stands up, grinning. SARAH has come over to
the booth. She puts her hands on her hips and gives the man a
severe, questioning look. He stumbles away as if pushed by
the force of the young girl's grimace.
Scene 5 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- MIDDAY
An OLD LADY slowly walks up the street using a walking frame.
She stops at JESSICA's stand and gives her a dollar for a
kiss on the cheek.
Scene 6 EXT. ON THE CORNER -- LUNCHTIME
JESSICA leaves her apartment building carrying a sandwich and
a drink of lemonade. Someone has written 'Slut' on her booth.
As Jessica struggles to stick extra pink tissue paper over
the graffiti, a single tear falls from underneath her heartshaped
sunglasses. ASHLEY, 11, walks over. She helps Jessica
with the sticky tape. Jessica looks up at her sceptically.
Ashley smiles nervously and then Jessica begins to smile
back.
Scene 7 EXT. OUTSIDE JESSICA'S HOUSE -- NEXT MORNING
With an accomplished look on her face, JESSICA leaves her
apartment. She waves at SARAH who is now sitting in the
window of the kissing booth talking to THE BOYS. The older
girl has changed the writing on the booth so it reads 'French
Kiss and more $10'. She's talking to the boys flirtatiously
but takes a break to wave back half heartedly.
Jessica walks to the post office box to send the money she
has raised to Africa Eats. ASHLEY is waiting for her there
and when Jessica arrives she holds out a bag of sweets. They
walk off together with towels wrapped around their necks,
giggling as they head to the pool.
Monday, November 16, 2009
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