"Movie in a movie"

Ok, I've worked out the new concept. After a few labourous hours with several re-writing attempts. Thanks to Sam and Alice for their great ideas. You're the breast, eh best!

Here it is:

A rather trendy man, FRANKIE, walks along the pedestrian that’s blanketed in trees. It’s a nice cool, windy day with a bit of sun peeping through the shade. He’s dressed in op-shop attire and looks like he dresses to impress himself, rather than to impress. He spots a funky pair of sunnies, has a paperback novel in hand and a duffel bag slung over his shoulders.

He turns into a plaza that’s almost devoid of people. Frankie finds a shady spot and removes his shoes. Making himself comfortable and crossing his legs, he has a sip of water from a botle of water, turns to a page in the book and starts reading.

MELISSA walks rather briskly along another end of the plaza. She’s in a long bright, floral dress and has nice long tresses. She has a rather large parcel under her arm. Mobile phone on her ear, she’s giving directions to the other person on the phone in a foreign language. Walking past Frankie and into a slight wind, her dress ‘trails’ behind her.

Frankie catches a glimpse of Melissa’s dress off the corner of his eye and looks up from his book. His eye follows the shape of her dress, body and hair, he purses his lips and almost smiles to himself. Melissa stops and stands about 50 feet away from Frankie and waits next to a street lamp. Ending her conversation, she puts her phone back into her handbag and wraps her arm around the parcel. She takes a little breather and looks around. She barely noticed Frankie.

Frankie goes back to his book and looks up periodically, clearly appreciating Melissa’s presence.

TOMAS is walking rather hurriedly along a road. He clearly hasn’t been here before and is looking for a focal point along the road. Walking along, he spots the plaza and walks towards it.

Tomas spots Melissa from far and waves. Melissa turns towards Tomas takes a few steps towards him before stopping.

Frankie looks up to observe the going-ons. Tomas walks up to Melissa and gives her a hug. The parcel is sandwiched between them while they’re hugging.

Speaking in their common language, Tomas apologises to Melissa for being late and makes a joke about not being a walking Melways. Melissa laughs, hands the parcel over to Tomas, says it’s ok and initiates a conversation. They remain standing, looking comfortable.

Frankie hasn’t gone back to his book and is looking rather intently at Tomas’s and Melissa’s get-together. The couple is being observed through Frankie’s eyes. They’re clearly having a conversation, as Tomas and Melissa are gesturing and nodding. However Frankie isn’t able to hear the conversation as they’re too far away.

From Frankie’s POV, little English subtitles appear under Tomas and Melissa as they speak. The subtitles do not make any sense as they do not correlate to what the couple talking about.

Tomas and Melissa continues to stand and talk, looking lively. All this while Frankie continues to observe them. His POV continues to show completely random statements and quips that are left-field and out of whack.

Tomas and Melissa, while not being understood by the majority of the viewers, are clearly talking about the contents in the parcel. Frankie’s own little movie is panning out to be something rather different.

After a minute, Tomas and Melissa begin to head off towads Frankie. Walking abreast of one another, they take a slow stroll and continue to remain in animate conversation. Frankie’s POV continues in subtitled format.

As the couple walks past Frankie, the contents of the box fall out from the bottom of the box. Frankie quickly puts his book aside, walks over and helps pick up the contents. Tomas and Melissa stoop/squat over to assist and thank Frankie for his help.

Frankie points to his ear, indicates ‘there is nothing’ and begins to say, in incomprehensible English, that he’s deaf.

Tomas and Melissa both look slightly embarassed. They stand up, thanking and nodding continuously. Frankie gives a ‘It’s ok’ look, uses ‘you’re welcome’ in sign language and mouths it out.

The couple walks away with a broken box and contents while Frankie goes back to his shady spot. He looks up, just before Melissa disappears from around the corner of a building, smiles to himself and keeps reading.