"Looks Get in the Way" short romantic film script for 2 actors

"LOOKS GET IN THE WAY"
(SHORT FILM VERSION - TWO ACTORS)
by D. M. Larson from Freedrama.net

Copyright (c) 2011, 2013, 2015 All Rights Reserved

For permission to use this script, please contact doug@freedrama.net

Here are the requirements for posting the film online - http://freedramaplays.blogspot.com/2015/07/would-you-like-to-use-free-script-for.html

(PHIL turns on his web cam and looks very nervous)

PHIL

Hey, there, Sidney.  I'm early.  I mean I'm Phil and I'm early.  I don't know if you're online yet. I hope you don't mind me logging in early because I didn't want to miss you. I didn't want to miss the first time we met... well, I guess it wouldn't be a first time if we never meet.

SIDNEY
(her screen is still blank)
I'm here.

PHIL
Oh, wow. Hi... um. I can't see you.

SIDNEY (OFF)
I'm kind of shy.

PHIL
Me too... painfully shy. I don't know if I could do this in person. That's why I wanted to try online first, because I get so nervous in social situations. It's really hard for me, meeting people.

SIDNEY
Me too.

PHIL
If you think this is a bad idea, I can go... I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. You seem really nice from the emails you sent and I wouldn't want to make a nice person like you feel bad.

SIDNEY
No, it's okay. I'd like to get to know you.

(SIDNEY appears on camera and she is in an old lady mask)

PHIL
Oh... uh... hi.

SIDNEY
Hi.

PHIL
I... uh...

(Phil is weirded out by the mask but tries to think of something to say)

PHIL (CONT.)
Did you get the flowers I sent?

SIDNEY
I did.

(She holds up flowers that are dying)

PHIL
Oh, no. I'm so sorry. I guess mailing them wasn't such a good idea. Delivery is so expensive  though and I thought if I used express mail they'd make it okay.

SIDNEY
It's okay... I like them... I never get flowers. This was nice.


(Sidney puts the flowers to the side of her desk and looks at Phil happily.  After a few moments of silence:)

PHIL

What's with the mask?

SIDNEY

Does it scare you?

PHIL

Not really... it's just... weird.

SIDNEY

So weird you can't talk to me anymore?

PHIL

I have to admit.  I'm a little curious.  Why would you wear an old person mask when you're meeting me for the first time?

SIDNEY

It's my way of weeding out the losers.  I want to find a man who likes what I'm really like and doesn't let my looks get in the way.

PHIL

Tell me about it.

SIDNEY

You're not ugly.

PHIL

I'm not?

SIDNEY

Turn your head that way a bit... no the other way.  Now look right at me.

(Phil does and Sidney takes a very close look)

SIDNEY (CONT.)

You have very nice eyes.

PHIL

Really?  You do too.

SIDNEY

Stop that.

PHIL

What?

SIDNEY

No physical stuff now.

PHIL

But you said my eyes... and your eyes are.. well... pretty...

SINDEY

No.

PHIL

But...

SIDNEY

Shush!

PHIL

Can't I?

SIDNEY

No.

PHIL

Okay.

(Sidney looks very grumpy and crosses her arms.  Phil looks around everywhere but at Sidney.  After a few moments:)

SIDNEY

The flowers are very nice.

PHIL

I like red.  You like red?

SIDNEY

I'm not much into colors.

PHIL

Why is that?

SIDNEY

They're so loaded.  Red is passion. Blue is sadness.  Green is envy.  I don't want colors bossing me around and telling me how I should feel.

PHIL

It's good to feel something though.

SIDNEY

Huh?

PHIL

A least those colors feel something.  Black and white is so boring.  No feeling at all.  Sometimes I feel like I am floating through space, cut off from the world, with no connection to anyone. I long for true blue sadness or some yellow bellied fear just so I could feel a little bit of something to break me out of this fog I've been in so much of my life.

SIDNEY
Seeking a little red in your life too?

(PHIL get embarrassed and shrugs shyly)

PHIL

So... uh... what else happens on these dating chats?  I mean... you seem to have had it all planned out with the mask and such.  It's like a test or something.  That reminds me of this one episode of Star Trek...oh, geez... now I'm talking about Star Trek. You probably think I'm a loser now.

SIDNEY

I like Star Trek...

PHIL

Really?

SIDNEY

Live long and prosper.

(PHIL holds up a cup of tea)

PHIL

Earl Grey tea... hot.

(Sidney laughs and holds up a cup of tea)

SIDNEY
Early grey. My favorite.

(Phil laughs too)

PHIL

What are the odds we'd like the same things?(Sidney wiggles happily) 

PHIL (CONT.)

Especially Star Trek... how many women actually like Star Trek?

SIDNEY

I do.

PHIL

So I admitted my secret love of Star Trek?  What's something unusual that you like?

SIDNEY
I collect rainbows.

PHIL
Really?  How do you collect rainbows?

SIDNEY
Through pictures... I have fun finding rainbows and I collect pictures of them. My dream is to travel the world and get a picture of a rainbow on every continent.

PHIL
I love traveling too. And photography.

SIDNEY
Where have you traveled to?

PHIL
Nowhere actually, but I'd love to one day.

SIDNEY
Me too... I've never been anywhere.  I've never even been to Canada.

PHIL
No way, eh?

SIDNEY
Cute... what kind of pictures do you take?

PHIL
Bad ones.

SIDNEY
What kind of pictures do you like to take though?

PHIL
Wildlife.

SIDNEY
That's cool. What's your favorite one so far?

PHIL
The snow leopard.

SIDNEY
Really? I love snow leopards.

PHIL
But it was in the zoo... so it's not that great of a picture.

SIDNEY
Have you gotten any pictures in the wild?

PHIL
Not really... just squirrels and stuff.

SIDNEY
Squirrels are cute.

PHIL
And ducks... I go feed ducks a lot.

SIDNEY
That sounds fun.

PHIL
Maybe we could... go feed ducks some time... or not.

SIDNEY
I'd love to.

PHIL

Maybe I should wear a mask on dates too.  I get so nervous.

SIDNEY

You're doing great.

PHIL

It's the mask.  It's helping me too for some reason.  It's so ridiculous... I guess it lightens the mood.

(Sidney makes a hurt sound)

SIDNEY

Ri-dic, ri-dic... ri-dicles?  Oh... my... I'm ridicles.

PHIL

No, you've very normal.  The rest of us are weird.

SIDNEY

Darn tootin.

(They laugh. Then they both get quiet. Phil looks around nervously and gives a shy smile)

SIDNEY

Wanna see me without my mask?

(Phil pauses.  He looks nervous)

PHIL

Uh... I don't know... maybe... I guess... this is a test too isn't it?  Oh man.

(Sidney laughs)

SIDNEY

Don't be nervous.  I'm not this scary looking for real.

PHIL

Okay.

SIDNEY

I'm kind of ugly but nothing like this.

PHIL

Ugly?

SIDNEY

Don't worry.  I don't have a huge nose or weird teeth or a huge mole on my face.  I'm just not very good looking.

PHIL

I don't mind. I'm no William Shatner.

SIDNEY

You sure?

PHIL

Yes, I'm sure I'm not William Shatner.

(Sidney laughs and Phil joins her)

SIDNEY

You sure about the mask?

PHIL

I'm sure.  I already know you have beautiful eyes.

SIDNEY

Stop that.

PHIL

I still can't compliment you?

SIDNEY

No.

(Sidney sits quietly a moment)

PHIL

You don't have to take off the mask.  It's okay.

SIDNEY

I want to.  You're really nice.  You deserve to see my real face.  You've passed the test.

(Phil waits nervously as Sidney removes the mask.  Sidney looks shy and Phil looks happy)

PHIL

You're beautiful.

(Sidney does an old lady voice)

SIDNEY

No, no, no.

PHIL

You are... really.

SIDNEY

Stop.

PHIL

You don't have any reason to hide.

(Sidney makes eye contact and returns his smile)

END OF SCENE