Minor Project: Screenplay Draft Version 01

Screenplay Draft Version 01

'Incompatibility' (Working Title) Version 01

ACT ONE

INT. ELECTRONICS STORE - EVENING

PAN across the room, from right to left. A plethora of outdated and redundant electronic equipment from throughout the 20th Century litters the shelves, from floor to ceiling. 

The camera slows to a stop, displaying a lone, battered MALE ROBOT, half buried under a collection of electronic components. The MALE ROBOT functions through a series of CASSETTE TAPES, used for DATA STORAGE. These tapes are inserted into a TAPE DECK situated in the MALE ROBOT'S chest.

The MALE ROBOT begins to sit up, adjusting itself to its surroundings as if it were waking from a deep sleep.

A metallic rattling is heard, as the camera CUTS to a disposal chute of sorts in the ceiling. A hatch swings open as a FEMALE ROBOT tumbles through, landing in a pile of electronic junk with a hefty crash. The FEMALE ROBOT is far more MODERNISED than the MALE ROBOT, using COMPACT DISCS for DATA STORAGE.

As the FEMALE ROBOT hits to ground, miscellaneous junk and trash is cast up, burying the newly awakened MALE ROBOT once again.

The MALE ROBOT sits up once again, unearthing itself from beneath yet more junk and misc electronics. 

POV of the MALE ROBOT, as he casts his eyes upon the FEMALE ROBOT, picking herself up and dusting herself off.

Stunned, the MALE ROBOT hoists himself up promptly in an attempt to play it cool, unsure whether the FEMALE ROBOT knows he is there or not.

The FEMALE ROBOT turns to see the MALE ROBOT stood across from her on the other side of the room. The MALE ROBOT waves, somewhat shyly, greeting the FEMALE ROBOT. Somewhat confused, the FEMALE ROBOT waves back doubtfully. 

ACT TWO

INT. ELECTRONICS STORE - EVENING

The MALE ROBOT begins to move towards the FEMALE ROBOT. Unsure of the MALE ROBOT'S intentions, the FEMALE ROBOT hesitantly moves away gradually.

Noticing the FEMALE ROBOT'S hesitance and unease, the MALE ROBOT makes an attempt to speak to her, hoping that this will reduce the tension of the situation.

Instead of a coherent language, the MALE ROBOT produces a series of unintelligible noises, a grinding and whirring of mechanical components.

Puzzled, the FEMALE ROBOT makes an attempt to respond, only to create a similar collection of miscellaneous noises, this time more digital than analogue. Dial tones, computer alerts and other similar sounds.

Both characters repeatedly make an attempt to communicate, the FEMALE ROBOT getting more frustrated and confused as more and more unintelligible dialogue is exchanged.

The MALE ROBOT has an idea. He gestures towards a form of TAPE DECK inset within his chest. A final series of mechanical whirring is heard, as the MALE ROBOT writes a collection of data to a CASSETTE TAPE.

The MALE ROBOT removes the CASSETTE TAPE. With a timid disposition, the MALE ROBOT begins to approach the FEMALE ROBOT once more, gesturing the CASSETTE TAPE towards her in an encouraging manner.

Perplexed once more, the FEMALE ROBOT shrugs, gesturing towards a collection of buttons on her chest. She presses one of the buttons, as a TRAY begins to extrude outwards.

The FEMALE ROBOT removes a COMPACT DISC from the TRAY, displaying it to the MALE ROBOT.

The MALE ROBOT, stunned, begins to recognise the incompatibility between the two of them. Disheartened and disappointed, he turns to walk away.

As the MALE ROBOT leaves, he trips over a cable. The cable pulls the connected TAPE DECK from a nearby shelf. As the TAPE DECK hits the ground, a single CASSETTE TAPE springs from the device, sliding across the floor and stopping at the MALE ROBOT'S feet.
(The Camera tracks the tumbling TAPE DECK as it falls, continuing to follow the CASSETTE TAPE as it travels across the floor, stopping at the feet of the MALE ROBOT. When the CASSETTE TAPE has come to a stop, the camera cuts, showing the MALE ROBOT'S reaction, then back to the CASSETTE TAPE as he bends down to pick it up. The camera continues to track the CASSETTE TAPE as it is picked up.)

ALTERNATE SCENARIO: Referring back to an alternate idea of a shop full of sentient, anthropomorphised hardware (not limited to robots, but anything. From radios to televisions, clocks to computers), then the pivotal CASSETTE TAPE could be provided by an onlooking ancillary character, such as a STEREO or something similar. This idea wouldn't work unless the overall universe that it is set within was skewed in that direction.

The MALE ROBOT notices the CASSETTE TAPE and picks it up off of the ground. This provokes an epiphany, as the MALE ROBOT excitedly inserts the CASSETTE TAPE into his personal TAPE DECK. He REWINDS the CASSETTE TAPE, generating the expected rewind noises and proceeds to press PLAY.

ACT THREE

INT. ELECTRONICS STORE - EVENING

The MALE ROBOT begins to dance, gesturing towards the FEMALE ROBOT in an attempt to get her to join in.

The FEMALE ROBOT remains disinterested, keeping her distance. She begins to notice smoke pouring from the TAPE DECK of the MALE ROBOT

Distracted by the situation, the MALE ROBOT is oblivious to the smoke pouring out, until the music begins to warp and slow down to a stop.

The CASSETTE TAPE unspools, pouring from within the TAPE DECK. In a panic, the MALE ROBOT makes an attempt to repair the CASSETTE TAPE, but it is too late, the damage has been done.

Embarrassed and completely disheartened, the MALE ROBOT promptly turns his back to the FEMALE ROBOT, facing the camera.

Out of nowhere, the hand of the FEMALE ROBOT appears upon the shoulder of the MALE ROBOT. 

The MALE ROBOT turns around to see the FEMALE ROBOT holding another COMPACT DISC.

The FEMALE ROBOT inserts the COMPACT DISC and presses PLAY. The same music from before begins to play, continuing where the MALE ROBOT had left off.

Sensing the newly established connection between the two of them, the ROBOTS begin to dance, having finally determined a common language through music.