Script

Pistachio
By
Katrina Jurczynski










Katrina Jurczynski
keylimepanda@gmail.com
©2009

Pistachio

By Katrina Jurczynski

FADE IN

EXT-ORPHANAGE-NIGHT

It’s snowing. On the Orphanage door step there is a basket and a child size guitar. The door opens, a short and slightly plump nun, GUSHA, steps out. She looks down and takes a baby, PISTACHIO, out of the basket. Gusha and Pistachio stare into each other’s eyes. Gusha smiles. Gusha bends down, grabs the guitar and basket, goes inside and shuts the door.

INT-ORPHANGAGE-PLAYROOM-DAY

Pistachio, five years old now, and his guitar with a couple kids sitting in front of him. Pistachio is playing alright for a five year old. He has attracted a small group of other kids. They are now sitting and watching him. Gusha is peering in from the doorway, smiling.

INT-CLASSROOM-DAY

Gusha is writing on the chalk board, "Good Morning!" She writes. She turns around and looks at the class. All the seats are filled but one. Gusha is disappointed. The kids in the seats on each side of the empty one look at it and look worried. Gusha storms out of class room. Gusha stomps down the hall way, turns down another hall way, turns into a room and sees Pistachio, alone, in a large bed room filled with five other beds. He is sitting on one of the beds. Pistachio looks up, innocent. Gusha glairs at him. Pistachio glairs back. Gusha glairs harder. Pistachio looks frightened. Gusha walks over to Pistachio, takes his arm and drags him out of the room. Pistachio brings his guitar.

INT-OFFICELOBBY-DAY

Gusha is standing in front of an office door, still holding Pistachio’s arm. She knocks on the door and walks in. Pistachio stands outside, waiting. You can see the silhouettes of Gusha yelling at someone. The door opens; Gusha walks out and pushes Pistachio in.

INT-OFFICE-DAY

Pistachio is sitting at a desk staring at a PRIEST on the other side. The priest holds up a math book. Pistachio makes a face and stands up, holds up his guitar and points at it. The Priest stands up, holds up a science book and points at it. The Priest raises an eyebrow. Pistachio raises an eye brow. The Priest slams down the science book. Pistachio holds his guitar up higher and sneers. The Priest looks shocked. Pistachio storms out.

INT-PLAYROOM-NIGHT

Pistachio is thirteen now, He is playing guitar, he is much better now. There is a group of kids sitting around him. He is smiling.

INT-CLASSROOM-DAY

Gusha is writing on the chalk board, "Good Morning!” She turns around to face class. Again the class is full except for an empty seat. All the kids look at the empty seat. Gusha is furious.

FADE TO

INT-BEDROOM-DAY

Pistachio is on his bed, playing guitar. He looks peaceful, then a thumping starts, it gets closer and closer and starts shaking the ground. Pistachio looks stops playing, he looks worried. The door bursts open. In comes Gusha, very mad. Guhsa walks to Pistachio, stares at him, and grabs his guitar. Pistachio shrieks. Gusha leaves the room, Pistachio fallows.

INT-HALLWAY-DAY

Gusha and pistachio are standing in front of gusha's room.
Gusha goes into her room and slams the door and locks it. Pistachio looks furious.

INT-BEDROOM-NIGHT

Pistachio lies in bed until everyone has gone to sleep. It is very late. He gets up, sneaks out of the room.

INT-NUN’SROOM-NIGHT

Gusha is snoring in bed; Pistachio sneaks in, walks to her closet, opens the door, sees his guitar, takes it, shuts the door, walks to Gusha's bed, and stares at her in the moon light. A single tear rolls down his cheek.

INT-PLAYROOM-NIGHT

Pistachio walks into the room, opens a window, climbs out and leaves.

EXT-TOWNSQUARE-MORNING

It’s very busy, Pistachio is playing his guitar, and he closes his eyes. (Seen from inside his guitar)You can see the street between his playing fingers, a small crowd starts to form, a small girl throws a penny at him. He smiles.

EXT-TOWNSQUARE-NIGHT

Pistachio is wondering the streets looking for somewhere to sleep, he walks by a small cottage, the windows and doors are boarded up. He tries the boards on the door, they won't move. He walks around the cottage and spots a loose board on a side window, he takes it off, opens the window, and climbs in.

INT-COTTAGE-NIGHT

Pistachio looks around, spots an old couch, walks to it, lays down on it and spoons his guitar.

EXT-COTTAGE-DAY

Pistachio walks out from the side, walks down the road and passes a guitar shop, he slows as he stares at the windows, and the beautiful guitars. He sighs.

EXT-TOWNSQUARE-MID DAY

Pistachio is playing to a big crowd. He closes his eyes. (View from inside the guitar) He has attracted a large crowd, they are all watching, silently, a man in a suit, GUTTO, pushes himself through the crowd. He watches Pistachio. Pistachio finishes and they applaud.

EXT-TOWNSQUARE-MID DAY

Pistachio smiles. Gutto walks up to Pistachio and shakes his hand, he smiles warmly, and so does Pistachio.

INT-CLUB-NIGHT

Pistachio is on stage, there is a large crowd in front of him, he seems nervous, he closes his eyes. (View from inside the guitar) Showing a large audience. They are very quite. Pistachio starts playing, his fingers are moving very fast. The crowd is pleased. He finishes. They stand up to applaud.

INT-CLUB-NIGHT

Pistachio is standing next to Gutto. Gutto pays him a bundle of cash. Another man in a very nice, dark purple suit, DIRK, approaches them and shakes Pistachios hand.

EXT-GUITAR SHOP-DAY

Pistachio walks out with a beautiful shiny, amazing, guitar, he is glowing.

INT-CLUB2-NIGHT

Pistachio is sitting on a wide stage in front of a large crowd. The lights are dim. He plays again and again the crowd is amazed.

INT-CLUB2-NIGHT

Dirk pays Pistachio a big bundle of cash. A short man with glasses and a dark red suit, FRANSICO, walks up to them and shakes Pistachio's hand. He hands Pistachio a card. The card says "Fransico's Symphony" and has a picture of a beautiful building on it. Pistachio smiles and his eyes glisten.

INT-SYMPHONY-NIGHT

Pistachio looks out onto the enormous crowd, and looks a little frightened and sad. He breathes deeply, and looks troubled. He looks onto the crowd, searching for some sort of comfort and he spots something, his eyes widen. He smiles. Gusha is sitting in the crowd waving and crying. Pistachio smiles and waves and cries a little. Then he closes his eyes and starts to play.

FADE OUT



Katrina Jurczynski
(c) 2009