Holiday Scene FINALISTS

Well Wavers, forgive the Wave-inatrix for posting these finalists a little late. The Script Department has been massively overloaded with reading lately - what's with these holiday writers getting a jump start on the strike resolution??

But I digress. Choosing the top three was very tough. Entries for this competition were to a one quite good. The Wave-inatrix carefully read over forty submissions (!) and carefully chose these three scenes as those that rose to the top as far as story and execution. Remember the rules - one to two page scene, had to include the words blizzard, egg nog and latke.

Please vote on the poll in the right hand sidebar.

And so, for your consideration:

ZAIDE by Mae Blumenthal

FADE IN:

EXT. AN 18TH CENTURY ENGLISH VILLAGE - DAY

A blizzard obscures this quaint village; snow drifts over thatched roofs and chimneys. It swirls violently then grows smaller, blurred and distorted until we pull back and -

-the image is replaced by a distorted view of miles of hot desert and dusty palm trees.

We pull back into -

INT. A HOTEL ROOM - JERUSALEM - SIMULTANEOUS

FLOYD CRAMER (70) puts the snow globe down and gazes out at the desert landscape.

FLOYD
(to no one in particular)
Who’s idea was this again?

HELEN CRAMER (68), grey hair in a stylish cut, pours herself another glass of egg nog.

HELEN
You know they fly this in from England?

Floyd levels his eyes at the egg nog with disgust.

HELEN
It’s kosher, too.

FLOYD
Helluva time of year. Grandkids are gonna miss my latkes back in Jersey. And we’re never gonna pay this off.

HELEN
Floyd, Chaim paid for this, remember? It’s his gratitude.

FLOYD
Gratitude? Chaim brings his two old Jewish parents to the Middle East as gratitude? He wants us dead.

Helen laughs and swats at her husband.

HELEN
We’re going to be late. A first birthday party is a very big deal in their culture.

FLOYD
Their culture. Saleh doesn’t want us here.

Helen puts down her egg nog and sits on the bed next to her husband. She runs her fingers through his wiry white hair lovingly.

HELEN
Chaim loves her.

Floyd gazes out at the desert for a long beat.

FLOYD
Well. Let’s go then.

Helen picks up a gift, wrapped in blue and white wrapping paper. Floyd puts on a yarmulke and turns to Helen. The yarmulke has “welcome to Israel” embroidered on it.

FLOYD
How do I look?

HELEN
Like a Zaide.

Helen hands Floyd the gift and opens the door to leave.


NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Dane Lowrie

INT. NURSING HOME RECREATION ROOM - DAY

It’s Christmas Day and a group of elderly residents (80’s &
90’s) are sitting in a festively decorated recreation room.
An orderly enters the room.

ORDERLY
We’re snowed in by this blizzard.
I’m sorry, but none of you will
have Christmas visitors today.

MACK
That blows.

Orderly leaves room and Irving excitedly enters, feverishly
spinning the wheels on his wheelchair.

IRVING
There’s latkes in the dining room!

MABEL
Latkes?

MACK
It’s a Jew thing.

ELEANOR
I like vodka.

MACK
Not vodka, latkes.

ELEANOR
If it wasn’t for vodka, my first
son would never have been
conceived. It was right after the
war...

MACK
(Exasperated)
Ay yi yi yi.

MABEL
I guess the carolers won’t be
showing up either.

MACK
I won’t miss ‘em. Except that
blonde with the nice jugs.

MABEL
That’s the pastor.

MACK
I don’t care what she does for a
living... she’s got huge titties.

Mabel gets up from her chair and looks down the hallway.

MABEL
Looks like they’ve got eggnog.

BOB
I’m lactose intolerant.

MACK
I’m idiot intolerant.

BOB
You want a piece of me?

MACK
What’re you gonna do? Ram me with
your wheelchair?

MABEL
Boys, we’re family here... let’s
have a nice Christmas.

IRVING
I don’t celebrate Christmas. I’m
Jewish.

MACK
Jesus was a Jew.

BOB
I thought he was Catholic. What’s
Santa Claus?

MABEL
Would anyone like to join me for
some eggnog?

ELEANOR
I’d like some vodka. If it wasn’t
for vodka, my first son would never
have been conceived. It was...

Mack shakes his head.

HOLIDAY SCENE by Ann Thurber

INT. BOOK STORE - NIGHT
The book store is a three-story giant, complete with coffee
shop. The upbeat Christmas music is a sharp contrast to the
cranky last-minute shoppers.

ALEX (31) stands in front of LUCY (27) who mans her station
at the customer service desk. He wears a wool coat and a
frazzled expression. She’s cheerful and her book store apron
is adorned with jeweled Christmas pins.

LUCY
Did you try our complimentary
eggnog and latke?

ALEX
What? I just need to exchange this
book for one I have on reserve.

He pulls a piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to
her. She looks at it, then picks up the book.

LUCY
‘The Architecture of London,’ huh?
This thing is huge. Who did you buy
it for?

ALEX
My girlfriend, but it looks as if
she already has it, so I need to
buy the one on French architecture,
instead.

Lucy turns around and matches the piece of paper to a book on
the “reserved” shelf. She turns back to Alex and places the
new book on the counter.

LUCY
Why’d you buy your girlfriend a
book on architecture?

ALEX
Because she’s an architect.
Lucy laughs to herself. Alex looks indignant.

ALEX
Why is that funny?

LUCY
No reason...I mean it’s kind of
unromantic, though. That would be
like buying me a book about book
stores.

ALEX
Thankfully I don’t need to buy you
a present.

LUCY
You might need to for some reason,
next year, if I get to know you
before then, and I’m just saying
that I don’t want a book on book
stores.

Alex opens his mouth to say something, then closes it. He
impatiently taps his index finger on the counter as Lucy
finishes the exchange.

LUCY
You owe $7.40.

Alex’s eyes widen.

ALEX
What? It was an even exchange at
the last store. They sent me here
because it was out of stock!

LUCY
All of our stores are different.

ALEX
I don’t care! I shouldn’t--

LUCY
Your girlfriend isn’t worth the
extra money?

Alex sighs and plunks his credit card on the counter. Lucy
slowly wraps the book in tissue paper, places it in a
decorative bag and hands it to him.

LUCY
Be careful out there, I heard a
blizzard might be coming.

Alex begrudgingly takes the bag and walks away.

LUCY
Merry Christmas...

She looks at the piece of paper used to reserve his book and
pockets it, smiling.

LUCY
Alex Taylor.

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