Screenplay

FADE IN EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY Hustle and bustle of a busy city. CARLEY, 25, carrying an overflowing briefcase and a cup of coffee that is dangerously close to spilling all over her, runs down the sidewalk. She is out of breath as she speaks.

CARLEY Of all... days... of all days... to be late... of course... it's.... this one.

Carley runs up to the door of the office building, and grabs the door handle, taking a second to compose herself and catch her breath before she enters the building.

CARLEY (CONT’D) Okay, let's do this.

Carley walks into the building.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING LOBBY - DAY Carley walks up to the front desk and sees a secretary on the phone.

SECRETARY (on the phone) Yeah, and I haven't even told you the craziest part yet! So after he jumped over those six kids on his bike, he turns right back around andCarley clears her throat.

SECRETARY (CONT’D) (on the phone) I'm gonna have to call you back. (to Carley) How may I help you, miss?

CARLEY I'm looking for David Gregson's office? I have an interview with him today at 11.

SECRETARY Oh, that's on the fifteenth floor, room 1509.

(MORE)

2.

SECRETARY (CONT’D) You're gonna take that elevator up, take a right after you reach your floor, and thenPAULA, 26, equally as frazzled and disorganized as Carley, comes running into the building and runs up to the secretary's desk. She is very out of breath.

PAULA (to secretary) Hey... could you please tell me... where... David Greg... Gregson's office is?

The secretary sighs and looks down at her phone. She looks back up at Paula.

SECRETARY (to Paula) Well, this lady is headed to the same destination, so she can show you the way.

CARLEY Oh... I uh... I guess I could?

The secretary smiles.

SECRETARY Great! You two go on your way now!

Thank you!

PAULA

Carley rolls her eyes and walks away, Paula following. The secretary picks her phone back up and continues her conversation.

SECRETARY (on the phone) Okay, so where was I? Oh right, he jumped over the kids, and then a rabid shit-zu showed up and totallyCarley walks down the hall briskly, Paula struggling to keep up.

PAULA You know, it's pretty crazy that we'd run into each other like this.

Carley says nothing.

3.

PAULA (CONT’D) You know, after all these years, not talking to each other, not seeing each other, and now we're together again!

Carley says nothing and begins to walk faster.

So weird.

PAULA (CONT’D)

They arrive at the elevator and Carley presses the up button.

PAULA (CONT’D) Um, well, congratulations on also getting to interview for the assistant vice manager executive to the Vice President position.

Gregson's pretty selective, I've heard.

Carley keeps looking forward at the elevator doors.

CARLEY Clearly not, because you're also here.

Paula looks down and purses her lips.

PAULA Returning my compliment with an insult. Man, you really haven't changed one bit.

The elevator doors open and Carley and Paula step into the elevator. Carley presses the "15" button and the doors close.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING ELEVATOR - DAY Carley and Paula stand in silence as the numbers on the elevator go up. 2, 3, 4. Paula clears her throat and looks at Carley.

PAULA Look, I understand I wasn't the perfect girlfriend, but come on.

There's no need to still be treating me like this.

Carley, still staring straight ahead, narrows her eyes.

4.

PAULA (CONT’D) I just want to... extend the olive branch of us not being complete shitbags to one another.

Carley says nothing.

PAULA (CONT’D) It's been two years. I've apologized a million and five times to you. What's it going to take for you to treat me like a human being again?

Carley snaps her head toward Paula.

CARLEY All the apologizing in the fucking world will not make up for what you did. As soon as things got tough for us, you just left. Ran away from the problem. Three months later I'm still crying about it and I see that you've already found someone new.

PAULA You don't think I was upset, too?

That I hated myself for months on end, knowing that you wouldn't take me back? I only started dating again so I could forget about you.

CARLEY You're the most selfish person I've ever met. It's surprising that you found people who actually wanted to date yThe elevator suddenly stops, and Carley and Paula look up at the display. It reads "12".The doors do not open.

CARLEY (CONT’D) Why are we stopped?

PAULA I don't know.

CARLEY No no no no I can't be trapped on this elevator. Not today, Fuck, please not today. Mr. Gregson is so strict about being on time.

5.

Carley checks her watch. 10:50.

Shit.

CARLEY (CONT’D)

Carley beings kicking the doors and banging on the walls. The elevator still has not moved. Paula presses the call button on the elevator. A TECHNICIAN answers.

Hello?

TECHNICIAN

PAULA (to technician) Hello, yes, um, I think that this elevator is stuck, and I would really like to get out of here.

TECHNICIAN Okay, is anyone else in there with you.

Paula looks over at Carley, arms crossed cursing under her breath.

Just one.

PAULA

TECHNICIAN Okay, help is on the way. Just stay calm and we will be there soon.

Thank you.

PAULA

Paula sits down and pulls a giant book out of her purse.

Carley gives her a confused look.

CARLEY Do you always carry that aroudn with you?

PAULA Yep. I read an article once about how you should always carry around a book in case you get trapped in an elevator.

Paula reaches into her purse and pulls out two bananas.

6.

PAULA (CONT’D) It also said to bring snacks. Want one?

Carley smiles a little bit and sits down on the opposite side of the elevator from Paula.

CARLEY How are you always prepared for the most random situations?

PAULA Well it comes in handy, doesn't it?

Carley takes one of the bananas from Paula and starts eating it.

Carley eats and Paula reads in silence for a few moments.

Paula shuts her book and looks up at Carley.

PAULA (CONT’D) I moved out because I found the ring.

CARLEY Oh. How did you find it?

PAULA I was cleaning the cabinets one day and I found it. And it just... freaked me out. Like, I knew I loved you, but I wasn't ready to get married yet. I was terrified of the commitment.

Paula looks down.

PAULA (CONT’D) And then both our moms got sick.

And I knew you wanted your mother to be at your wedding, and I just... knew you were going to propose, so I just... left. And it was the biggest mistake of my life.

CARLEY Wow. I never knew that.

PAULA I could never tell you before. I was so ashamed.

7.

CARLEY But you don't think it would have saved so much pain if you had just told me you weren't ready to get married? You just disappeared from my life without a trace.

PAULA I know, and it was so selfish of me to do. I wanted to call you, but I knew you hated me. Hell, I hated me.

Carley considers this.

CARLEY Look, I don't want to say I forgive you, because I still kind of don't, but... I might be willing to give you a second chance.

She extends her hand out to Paula. Paula takes it.

CARLEY (CONT’D) We can take this as a fresh start.

Start off just being friendly with each other again, and we can see where it goes.

Carley smiles. Paula smiles back.

PAULA Yeah, I think I'd like that.

Carley checks her watch again. 11:02.

CARLEY Well, now I'm late to the most important job interview of my life and now have about a zero percent chance of getting this job.

PAULA There are other jobs.

I guess.

CARLEY

Suddenly, a loud banging is heard on the door. The door begin to open, and a fireman wielding an axe separates the doors.

FIREMAN Are you two alright?

8.

Carely looks over at Paula.

CARLEY Yeah, I think we're okay.

FADE OUT