Donna Rose - First 20 Pages - 7-21-2012_new

Published on July 2016 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 18 | Comments: 0 | Views: 243
of 22
Download PDF   Embed   Report

Comments

Content

DONNA ROSE, QUEEN OF HEARTS THE COMPLETE TRILOGY
by James David Sullivan

214/566-4086 [email protected]

COPYRIGHT

2012.

ALL

RIGHTS

RESERVED.

FADE

UP

WITH

TITLE:

"PART

I:

WHEREVER

THERE

IS

LOVE"

EXT.

FORT

WORTH-EARLY sunrise over

MORNING Fort Worth, Texas. ZOOM OUT:

Beautiful

EXT.

FORT

WORTH

SKYLINE

-

EARLY

MORNING

Male, NARRATOR/VOICE OVER, approximately 55 years of age, with a very thick, Texas-style accent; handsome in a "George Clooney" fashion. The narrator is JIM DONOVAN. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Let me warn you in advance that this is not going to be one of those happy-go-lucky, "you had me at hello" pieces of crap that Hollywood usually pumps out.
ZOOM IN TO SCHOOL

EXTERIOR: EXT. TEN-STORY OFFICE BUILDING IN WHICH THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED - MORNING
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER This is a story of real love, and if you can handle a heaping helping of heartbreak, then keep watching. Otherwise, go see some chick-flick or a wild car chase movie.

ZOOM EXT. CLOSE-UP OF SCHOOL SIGN MORNING

IN:

The school sign reads, "Capstone Center for Career Education". NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Okay, are all the assholes gone? Good! Now, get ready for Lumpy's story. DISSOLVE INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM MORNING TO:

The classroom is filled with teachers. We see the teachers who are reporting to the SCHOOL DEAN, one by one. LUMPY'S (DONNA ROSE) is bubbly, very beautiful (at the Jennifer Anniston level), and about 40. The SCHOOL DEAN has a small part in this scene; she is about 45.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

2.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER (Same as above, only seeming slightly younger and happier.) The first time I ever saw Lumpy was at a teacher's retention meeting; she had just been hired and was introducing herself. SCHOOL DEAN And today, faculty, we have a new addition to our staff. Ms. Rose, will you introduce yourself, please? LUMPY/DONNA ROSE Yes. My name is Donna Rose, and I have been a doctor's assistant for 18 years. It's been extremely stressful at times, and I thought I would like to see what teaching was like. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Those meetings are held to find out which students are not coming to class and why. I was teaching at a career school, one of those private companies that help adults find better work without spending as much time as a "regular" college requires.
ZOOM INTO LUMPY'S

FACE: Lumpy's (Donna Rose's) lips move as she talks, but her voice is low and can barely be heard during the Voice Over. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Lumpy was the most beautiful lady I had ever seen in my entire life. I'll tell you why I call here "Lumpy" later. It is certainly not because anything that resembled a visible lump on her was unattractive. Play underneath the Voice Over, Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful".
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER She appeared to be just under 40. This was one of God's masterpieces. Beauty beyond description. And not the trampy kind of beauty--instead, Angelic beauty.
ZOOM OUT SLIGHTLY:

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

3.

LUMPY'S (DONNA ROSE) lips move as she continues to talk, but her voice is low and can barely be heard during the Voice Over. We see a photo of Julia Roberts on the screen for a second or so. Then, we see close ups of Lumpy's hair and eyes. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Lumpy had a Mona Lisa smile, much like what's her name-you know-that Roberts lady. This is when I heard her beautiful, Angelic voice for the very first time. Her hair was like a golden river of honey, flowing down her back. Her eyes were like a deep blue ocean that never ended. Her smile was like sunshine on an early summer morning. I was instantly attracted to her--that's my way of saying that it was love at first sight without actually admitting it. And then she burst my fantasy into tiny little fragments with three short words: .... and LUMPY/DONNA ROSE my boyfriend....

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Well, it was nice while it lasted. She had me at hello, but she lost me at her quote boyfriend unquote. I've been in those triangles before, and I've always lost. Lesson learned. Not every story has a happy ending. INT. TEACHER'S WORK AREA ("THE PIT") DAYTIME

Wide shot of the teacher's work area, cramped beyond imagination. There is a single row of computers on a shelf along a long wall with about 3 feet between one wall and the opposite edge of the shelf (on which the computers rest), forming a long corridor with 10 chairs in the middle. All of the chairs are filled with teachers who are facing the same way, working on their computers. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Welcome to the Pit! The "pit" is what we teachers call this area; our administrators, on the other hand, lovingly refer this place as the teacher's "workroom". Imagination sequence with Jim putting up an "Abandon Hope" sign, as described below.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

4.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I've threatened many times to put a sign outside that Hellhole stating, "Abandon hope, all ye who enter." But that would be giving Hell a bad name. LUMPY/DONNA ROSE (To all the teachers in the room:) I have been looking for dates on Internet Web sites. My brothers think I'm crazy. But how else do you meet men these days? Bars are for losers! Donna gets up from her chair (which is next to Jim's) and walks towards the door. As she walks past Jim, she bumps up against him, caressing him gently, sweetly, and slightly as she walks by. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Angels touch you only very rarely in this world, and you can't ever forget that feeling of pure Heaven that they give you. Donna looks back at Jim as she reaches the door, smiles at him, and leaves. Imagination sequence of Jim getting hit in the head with a brick. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER All of a sudden it hit me like a brick in the head: Why would she be talking about Internet dating sites? Something must have happened between her and her boyfriend. I didn't want to be nosy and ask, but this changed the whole game. INT. TEACHER'S WORK AREA DAYTIME

Jim and Donna are alone together in the "Pit". Donna smiles at Jim but Jim remains speechless.
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER A few days later, I saw Lumpy, again in the "pit". We were alone. This time she was looking right at me, with a joy in her face that I hadn't seen for 30 years. I thought I was hallucinating. This Goddess was smiling at me as if I were the only one in her world. And I couldn't really think of a thing to say, like some thunderstruck school kid who has (MORE)

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

5.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER (cont'd) seen his very first love and has no idea of what to say or do. We see a close up of Donna's smiling face. Then we see Jim smiling back, clearly very happy. Flash a photo of Yogi Berra near the end of the following narration. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Just gazing in her face made me happy, happier than I had been in decades. I hadn't been a monk most of my life, but there had only been one other lady before this moment that had even come close to giving me the feeling I had right now. I never made love, nor even hugged, the first woman I ever fell in love with. I just didn't know what to do. And now it was happening again--history was repeating itself--it was déjà vu all over again, as Yogi would say. Flashback to Jim, much younger in a different office with another lady. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I worked with my first love-atfirst-sight as well. You take your job and your life in your hands when you fall in love with a co-worker, and one of you will most likely leave your place of employment before it's over with. Return to present. Jim and Donna are still gazing at each other, drinking each other in. Play Nickleback's "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good" underneath the following Voice Over. Flashback to a younger Jim, saying something to a beautiful blonde lady only to see her start laughing at him.
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER What if you tell her and she laughs at you? I've had that happen before, too. Or what if she was only flirting and not expecting you to get serious? Some women run from love, and if you have any hope of dating or marrying them, you have to keep your feelings hidden long enough until they reach the same conclusion emotionally as you already have. Men aren't the only ones afraid of commitment.

Donna gets up and walks out of the room, smiling at Jim as she leaves.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

6.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Love is a very dangerous thing. It's a game of chicken. Who will admit it first? And what if they won't admit it?
We see the balcony scene of any Romeo and Juliet movie.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER What was it that Juliet did or said that made Romeo fall in love with her so quickly? There is simply no way to explain what happens when Cupid nails you in the heart, when you get hit with what the Italians call the "thunderbolt."

INT.

SCHOOL

CLASSROOM

-

DAYTIME

There are four rows of tables with computers on them in all of the classrooms. There is an aisle through the middle of each classroom, and each half row seats 4 students (on either side of the middle aisle). At the front of the room, there is a teacher's desk and computer. Each classroom has windows with great views of downtown Fort Worth. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER After that, Lumpy started coming to see me in class. Good LUMPY/DONNA ROSE morning! How are you? morning if

JIM DONOVAN It would be a lot better I had some coffee!

LUMPY/DONNA ROSE You men are never satisfied! I'll be back in a minute! Lumpy/Donna Rose returns, bringing Jim some coffee. A few of the students can be seen talking in whispers and giggling to one another when they see this. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I was so overwhelmed by her kindness and her beauty and everything about her. I think my students figured it out quickly, long before she ever did, and perhaps even before I did. DISSOLVE INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM LATER TO:

Jim hands out small "fuzzy" bears to his students during the following voice over. The students are overjoyed with the

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

7.

gifts. Jim has one left over, which he puts away. We see a collection of plaques in the classroom reading, "Jim Donovan/"Top Dog Award"/Teacher of the Month". Through his open class door, Jim sees Donna headed towards an exit as the class bell rings. Jim tries to catch her before she leaves.
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I bought small gifts for my students. At first, it was at random times. Then, one class had given me perfect scores on my course evaluations. I responded by bringing them gifts every day. It got expensive, but I still did it. And my evaluation scores stayed very high. But much more importantly, the students were doing great in their studies.

EXT.

SCHOOL

PARKING

LOT

-

AFTERNOON,

SUNSHINY

DAY

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I had seen Lumpy leaving, and she left so fast that I missed her upstairs, so I headed downstairs to the parking lot to try to catch her before she left for the day. Jim comes rushing out of a door into the parking lot. Donna has started to drive away and Jim waves at her. Donna stops, rolls down her car window, and Jim gives her a small fuzzy bear. JIM DONOVAN I brought you a pet. He needs a good home. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER She appeared happy, but I had no idea how happy she was. I didn't know till much later that she really loved "fuzzy bears". Sometimes, you hit the jackpot. And sometimes you don't know what the right thing to do is, once you've hit the jackpot. Wait right LUMPY/DONNA ROSE there. Let me park.

Donna parks quickly, gets out of her car, and runs over to Jim and hugs him. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I was absolutely shocked. I never dreamed she would have responded this way. But I also remembered (MORE)

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

8.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER (cont'd) that the president of the school could see everything that was going on in the parking lot from her corner office, and we were right in her line of sight.

Flashback to teacher's meeting. Tight-laced, elegant lady is lecturing the teachers; this is the SCHOOL PRESIDENT and is about 50. SCHOOL PRESIDENT You've all watched the training video. You know how easy it is to have a misunderstanding with a coworker who files a sexual harassment charge. Therefore, I am implementing a "no fraternization" policy here. No dating, nor anything that resembles that. We can't afford such potential problems at this school. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER We were part of a national chain of schools. The big shots were terribly worried about the school's reputation and getting sued for sexual harassment or something similar. I had been through the 4-hour video training session, but Lumpy hadn't. I had large monthly bills to pay and I couldn't afford to lose my job, and I didn't want Donna to lose hers, either. She didn't know what was holding me back. All she could see is someone who didn't care enough to tell her that he loved her or even hug her back the way she really wanted me to. Return to the parking lot scene.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Instead of returning her hug the way I wanted to, I simply went through the motions and told her in a low voice: JIM DONOVAN You know the president of the company can see everything we are doing here. And so can all of the others in the offices next to hers. We look at the windows on the building and then we return to Jim and Donna.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

9.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I wish I had told her that we needed to talk somewhere else. I wish I had told her then I loved her. I wish I could change the past. But no one can.
INT. TEACHER'S WORK AREA (THE "PIT") AFTERNOON, AFTER

WORK

HOURS

Jim holds a list titled, "Emergency Staff Contact Information" with one hand as he dials the phone with his other hand. No one else is in the Pit with Jim.
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I called her a few days later at home. All of the staff's home numbers and cell numbers were on an emergency list. This wasn't exactly an emergency, unless you were to ask Cupid.

Hello? Oh, hi,

JIM DONOVAN This is Jim from DONNA ROSE Jim! How are

school.

you?

JIM DONOVAN Fine. I didn't get much time to talk to you today. CUT INT. DONNA'S BATHROOM TO:

DONNA ROSE Sorry! I have some time now. I was just relaxing in the tub with a glass of wine. CUT INT. THE PIT TO:

We see the phone conversation alternating, and then suddenly terminating as the narration below continues. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER She was very nice on the phone for several minutes. Then a call came in and she unexpectedly had to take it. I didn't realize who that was until much later. It was her ex-boyfriend, coming back into the picture. But I didn't know that then, nor did I even suspect it.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

10.

We see a wide shot of Jim, putting his feet up on the desk and looking at a picture of Donna on the desk (Donna's desk) next to him. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Apparently, they had had a "blowout" and he was sweet-talking her, so he could get back together with her. Superman is supposed to have x-ray vision. That day, I would have settled for x-ray hearing.
INT. TEACHER'S WORK AREA (THE "PIT") AFTER HOURS

Jim enters the Pit and sees Donna by herself, talking on the phone.
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER A few days later, I heard Lumpy talking to someone on the phone.

Donna

finishes Who Oh,

up was just

her JIM that?

phone

call.

DONOVAN

DONNA ROSE an old friend

of

mine.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER But I should have realized he was much more than that to her. It was Miguel, her ex-boyfriend, continuing to try to move back in on her. Donna suddenly grimaces and holds her left arm with her right hand. What's the JIM DONOVAN matter?

DONNA ROSE I had some pre-cancerous lumps removed several weeks ago, just before I came to work here. The surgery still bothers me from time to time, even though it isn't as bad as it was at first. JIM DONOVAN (Smiling:) I'm going to start calling you Lumpy! DONNA ROSE (Smiling:) better not!

You

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

11.

JIM DONOVAN Aw, come on, Lumpy, don't get mad at me! DONNA ROSE I'm not. Actually, it's kind of cute. You can call me that when we're alone. But don't you dare ever call me that when other people are around! I don't want them to get the wrong idea-and I don't want anyone else calling me "Lumpy"! Okay, INT. TEACHER'S JIM Lumpy! WORK DONOVAN AREA (THE "PIT") AFTERNOON

Jim enters the pit. Donna is there alone, crying. WITCHES 1, 2, 3, and Hope are all teachers at this school, about 35 or so, and will appear later in this scene. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I looked forward to her coming to see me each day to bring me coffee. And then one day I saw Lumpy in the pit, crying. JIM DONOVAN (Extremely concerned:) What's wrong?
LUMPY/DONNA ROSE Some of the other teachers were giving me a hard time. They think we're dating.

JIM DONOVAN (Very quietly:) And what would be so wrong with that? We see a close-up of Donna continuing to talk during the following narration. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Lumpy went on as if she hadn't even heard me. You knew they had hurt her feelings, all of those jealous, good-for-nothing excuses for teachers. I knew I wanted to tell her how I felt. And I couldn't. I just couldn't. We see both Donna and Jim as she continues to talk. Dissolve to a stock footage of a train wreck with survivors helping each other. Dissolve to a guy sneaking up and tapping his girlfriend on the shoulder.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

12.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I don't know how to explain falling in love. Sometimes it's a tremendous, life-changing experience that two people share and because they are together when that jolt occurs, they realize they need to be together forever. Like survivors who helped each other make it through a train wreck. Sometimes you feel it coming and you can't do anything to stop it. Sometimes it just sneaks up on you. And sometimes it is there from the very beginning, waiting for you; and you know it the instant you meet that special person. But no matter how it happens, there is no "why" to it. It just happens. We see both Jim and Donna again.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Unfortunately, sometimes it happens at the wrong time and/or the wrong place. Like when you fall in love with someone who already has a husband or a boyfriend. Or, in my case, when you fall in love with a co-worker. Or both.

We

see

an

animated

broken

heart.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I had never been able to make an office relationship work. Never. They had all failed and all caused me great heartaches. During the following narration, we see a shot of three real witches in full witch garb, stirring a cauldron. Then, we see one of the three women in street clothes at home, arguing with her husband (as the narration continues). NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I soon found out who the teachers were that finished me off with Donna, the ones who had given Lumpy such a hard time when they found out she was interested in me. They were three really rotten ladies that worked for our company. One of them was the most miserable person I had ever met. Her husband was abusing her, at least emotionally and probably physically as well. Instead of leaving him, she brought her misery to work.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

13.

We see Jim and Witch # 1 in street clothes, with Jim trying to console her while she remains completely miserable. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I had tried to cheer her up, but nothing I tried worked. It was sickening to have someone come to work each day and bring everyone down at the office simply because she would not give up on a terrible, failed marriage. We see Witch # 1 talking to Donna.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER She wanted everyone to feel as miserable as she did. So, when she saw how happy Lumpy was with me, she set about to destroy our budding relationship. We see Witch # 2 trying to talk to Jim and flirting with him, although Jim is not picking up on this. Then we see Witch # 2 talking to Donna. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER And she had help. Another one of the witches had set her sights on me. It took a very long time, but finally I realized that she was interested in me. She seemed like an okay co-worker, but I never had any romantic interest in her whatsoever. As time went by, she made it more and more obvious that she was interested in dating me. All of a sudden, when that became clear, everything else made sense. If she could block Lumpy and me from being together, she must have thought she had a chance with me. Like that was going to happen! We see Witch # 3 receiving a certificate at an office Christmas party that reads: "It's All About Me!" Then we see Witch # 3 walking up to a copy machine with papers in hand, looking around to see if anyone is watching, stopping the machine, and putting her copy job in. Next we see Witch # 3 talking to Donna. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER At the last company Christmas party, the third witch had been labeled "it's all about me!" And no truer words were ever written or spoken. As teachers, we all had a lot of copies we had to make: handouts, practice sheets, lab (MORE)

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

14.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER (cont'd) instructions, etc. This witch had a habit of stopping people's copy jobs in midstream when they weren't looking so that she could get her work done on time, despite the trouble that she caused others. I knew she was a nightmare, and I tried to stay away from her. We see the three witches together, in full witch garb again, cackling and stirring their cauldron. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Right now, you're probably wondering how I found out that it was these three witches that torpedoed me with Lumpy. The answer is very simple: A little bird told me, a little bird called Hope, one of my fellow teachers at work. We see the Pit, empty except for Hope, a beautiful 40-year old Black teacher, who is working on the computer when Jim walks in. Hey, Jim! HOPE

JIM DONOVAN What's up, Hope? Hope gets up, looks around to make sure no one else is around, goes over and closes the door to the Pit. HOPE Jim, I need to tell you something. You know the Witches of Wonderschool? Of course! JIM DONOVAN

HOPE Well, they were here a little while ago. Donna was here, too. They went after you relentlessly. They have seen how much you and Donna like each other. None of them likes to see anyone happy. Donna always likes to please the people she is around. She grew up that way, and she has been doing it all her life. They had her almost in tears. She promised them not to have anything more to do with you.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

15.

That INT.

JIM DONOVAN (Devastated:) explains a lot. WORK AREA (THE "PIT") MORNING

TEACHER'S

The three witches are in the Pit with Hope when Jim comes in. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Not long after that, I saw all three of them putting down another co-worker who was not present. I was sickened, and I felt like telling them off. But I knew they would only get together and tell the boss their version--a pack of lies, to be sure--but it is a lot easier to believe 3 people than 1. Then they went after Hope. WITCH # 3 Hope, if you get any more ghetto.... You I'm for you HOPE better stop right there, ho! not like Donna, I can take up myself and I see you for what really are!

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Those 3 witches had done me in. They didn't like me, and they knew they could control Lumpy. Lumpy always tried to please others, and people, such as these three, easily swayed her. They laughed at her behind her back, called her "half-breed" and a lot of other names I won't repeat to you. Still, she did what they wanted her to. We see Jim reading a magazine all by himself in the Pit. A look of shock comes across his face. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I saw a statistic recently that said that 40% of women would dump their boyfriends if their friends did not like him. There must be a lot of people like Lumpy out there without the courage to stand up for their men. It is a tragedy beyond anything that a fiction writer could possibly imagine.

DONNA INT. Jim TEACHER'S Donovan WORK works

ROSE, AREA alone

QUEEN

OF -

HEARTS AFTER HOURS

16.

(THE on

"PIT") a

computer.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER So I set upon a plan. I was going to find another job. A good job. One that paid enough to make us both happy. And then I was going to tell Lumpy everything I felt for her.
We see computer screen with the Website, "CareerUniverse.Com" displayed.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I started sending out email resumes that weekend. The very first job I saw seemed like a great match. 2 to 3 times the money I was making as a teacher. I had every skill they needed. We see Jim typing furiously.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I sent out the e-resume and looked for more possibilities. I sent eresumes to about 10 companies that day.
INT. TEACHER'S WORK AREA (THE "PIT") AFTER HOURS

Jim Donovan is working alone on a computer when his cell phone rings.
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I received a call in a matter of days. I worked out a time and set up a phone interview. I couldn't believe my luck. The phone interview went extremely well.
We see an animated calendar changing days several times.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Days passed. Then the day for the face-to-face arrived. I had used an excuse about needing to be home when a plumber came to fix a leak. That part was true--but I neglected to tell my boss that I was also going on a job interview. EXT. COMPANY PARKING LOT AFTERNOON

Jim Donovan drives into the parking lot, parks, and exits, headed toward the building. Jim picks something up as he crosses the parking lot.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

17.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER In the parking lot of the company, I saw a penny. I was face down, but I picked it up anyways. That's always been very bad luck for me. I should have thrown it back on the ground, but I didn't. I just decided to do my very best on the interview. DISSOLVE INT. COMPANY CONFERENCE ROOM AFTERNOON TO:

Jim Donovan is being interviewed by several company executives at a large table. The COMPANY PRESIDENT is about 50 years old. In the background, we see a diploma from Texas A & M University. COMPANY PRESIDENT I see on your resume that you graduated from UT Austin. Is that correct? Yes, sir, Honors. Hmmm.... We see Jim continuing to answer questions in the interview. Then we see Jim at home, typing on his computer. Next we see Jim opening up a letter, reading it, wadding it up, and throwing it in the trash. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER The president of the company was from Texas A&M--an Aggie. There was no way he was going to hire someone from the University of Texas at Austin. I did my best on the interview, and then wrote and sent an email message giving them almost 50 reasons that I was the best choice for the job. A few days later, they let me know they had picked someone else. My big plan had failed. INT. The SCHOOL classroom CLASSROOM is filled EVENING students. JIM DONOVAN it is. With COMPANY Highest

PRESIDENT

with

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Lumpy was assigned to teach a course in study skills for new students. I had taught it many (MORE)

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

18.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER (cont'd) times and it was a piece of cake for me. The first night, the students took a test to determine their personality strengths. The second night, I had them get together as groups and had them build towers with index cards.

DONNA ROSE Class, Mr. Donovan will be leading you in tonight's assignment. JIM DONOVAN Here is your assignment: Each group of students has a pack of index cards. I want each group to build a tower, using only the cards. It must be at least two feet tall, and you have to prove it to either Ms. Rose or me, using only what you have been given. You all have taken the Power Personality Test during your last session in this class. As you design and build your tower, I want you to be thinking of which of your personality strengths you used, and which you noted in your fellow team members. There will be a quiz on that later! The students start. Some groups are doing a lot of discussing, while others get started right away. There are smiles throughout the classroom. The students clearly love this exercise. Jim Donovan and Lumpy/Donna Rose watch the students and talk to each other. DISSOLVE: LATER Several towers have been built, some of them almost to the ceiling. The students laugh and talk as they admire their towers and the towers of the other students. JIM DONOVAN Okay, great job, everyone! When you have limited resources, that doesn't mean your imagination has to be limited. It simply means you have to work harder and more creatively. You have also seen some of the benefits and drawbacks of working in teams. It's break time. Be back in 10 minutes!
The students file out of the class. Donna leaves, too.

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

19.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I had asked someone to be a guest speaker, and she always showed up. A lot of the other guest speakers from the faculty and staff were "hit and miss": sometimes they would show up and sometimes they wouldn't. DISSOLVE: LATER Students start returning to the classroom. Flash a photograph of George Bernard Shaw on the screen at the end of the following narration.
NARRATOR/VOICE OVER The students in most career colleges are adults. They all used to think that, after they graduated from high school, they could survive without any more education only to find out how wrong that idea truly is in the real world. They finally figured out that a better education meant more money in their pockets. As Shaw said, youth is truly wasted on the young.

Gloria,

the

guest

speaker,

enters

the

classroom.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER When my guest speaker arrived, I praised her to no end. I was so happy to have her show up right on time, just like she always did.
JIM DONOVAN Gloria is one of the most professional people in our organization. You can always count on her,
Donna walks back into class just as Jim is saying this.

And

what

LUMPY/DONNA ROSE am I, chopped liver?

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Lumpy was EXTREMELY upset. I didn't mean to hurt Lumpy's feelings. She didn't realize that I wouldn't have been there at all, helping her through her second night of this course if I didn't hold her in such high esteem. Actions may speak louder than (MORE)

DONNA

ROSE,

QUEEN

OF

HEARTS

20.

NARRATOR/VOICE OVER (cont'd) words, but some people need hearing aids when it comes to understanding this point. Jim finds a seat quickly and quietly. Donna talks to the class underneath the following narration. Then Jim leaves the class quietly. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER If I made a public apology, which I probably should have, I thought the students would take it as being forced under the situation. So, I just sat quietly and listened to Lumpy. She now seemed to have the hang of what she was supposed to do in the course, and when I found an opportunity, I snuck out, not knowing how to repair the damage I had done. Gloria Dissolve INT. is talking to: JIM DONOVAN'S CLASSROOM EVENING about financial aid.

Jim is in his classroom all by himself. He types on his computer. We see Jim printing his love letter out, folding it up, and putting it into his wallet. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER Later that night, I wrote a love letter to Lumpy. But it was years before I would ever look at it again. I folded it up, put it into my wallet, and forgot about it for a long, long time. I titled it, "An (As Yet) Undelivered Love Letter."
INT. JIM DONOVAN'S CLASSROOM, AFTER CLASS DAYTIME

Jim sits at a computer in his classroom, typing on a computer. The classroom is empty except for Jim. NARRATOR/VOICE OVER I finally decided to send Lumpy an email message. Jim Donovan types the following message to Lumpy, and he reads it out loud as a voice over while the following is seen on a computer screen: JIM DONOVAN Donna, I am so sorry for making you feel bad in class. I didn't know (MORE)

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close