the jealous factor

8/14/2019 The Jealous Factor

1/23

Five to a Room

The Jealous Factor

Ionia Palmer

Ionia Palmer

Phone 785 383 8776

[email protected]


2/23

FADE IN:

INT. APT 500 - MORNING

Jenny is at the bathroom door knocking. Ample is on theother side taking a shower.

JENNYAye, come on Ample. You've been inthere all morning.

AMPLE (O.S.)It's not like you have to go anywhere.You don't have a job remember.

JENNYYou don't have a job either you tool.You sit in front of a computer andsell people your junk.

AMPLE (O.S.)Well I have a date.

Jenny pounds on the door again.

JENNYOh yeah, a day date. We'll see howfar that gets.

They continue to argue.

Amelie enters with three dogs on leases.

AMELIEYou two are still arguing over thebathroom?

JENNYYeah he...

Jenny sees the dogs and pauses awkwardly.

JENNY (CONT'D)Amelie, what did we tell you aboutrunning off with people's meat loving

dog.

AMELIEThat was one time and you know what...I feel some dogs like beingvegetarians. They should have thatoption. Besides I didn't take thesedogs, it's my new job.


3/23

2.

JENNYYour new--?

AMPLE (O.S.)Who just came in?

AMELIE

Oh me--

Jenny shushes her then leans closer to the door.

JENNYIt's Laura and she's asking for youbig boy.

The bathroom door opens quickly and Ample comes out, drippingwet, with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

AMPLE

Where?

He looks around frantically.

JENNYAnother gullible fish moment.

Jenny quickly sneaks around him and into the bathroom. Sheslams the door and locks it.

AMPLEOh come on, that's just wrong.

Ample starts to pound on the door.

AMELIEI don't know why you two argue overthe bathroom so much. It saves moretime and the environment to simplytake a dip in the ocean.

AMPLEWe're not all tree hugging, oceandipping hippies like you.

Ample sneezes.

AMELIEI'm not even going to say bless you.

He sneezes again.

AMELIE (CONT'D)Okay I'll say bless you but onlybecause the heavens will calm down

(MORE)


4/23

3.

AMELIE (CONT'D)with my sentimental gesture. Blessyou.

AMPLEYou have to get rid of those dogs.

AMELIEWhy?

AMPLEI'm allergic to dogs.

He sneezes again, this time more hard. He nearly falls down.

AMELIEAmple you started my dog walkingbusiness on Max-list. Why didn'tyou tell me you were allergic to

dogs then?

AMPLEI didn't know you were going to bringyour job home with you.

Amelie heads for the door.

AMELIEOkay, I'll return them to their meatloving owners.

AMPLE

Thank you.

Ample pounds on the bathroom door.

Ben comes in through the front door, startling Amelie andthe dog who start barking. Ben is a bit frightened. Hejumps back.

AMELIEOh you big scary cat. They're notgoing to hurt you. Isn't thatright... you're not going to hurtthe silly man.

Amelie starts babying the dogs, rubbing their heads and theycalm down.

BENWhat is with the dogs?

AMELIEDon't worry, I'm considering a newjob.


5/23

4.

BENYou should try where I work... theMason Inn... they're hiring forhousekeepers.

Amelie nods, considering.

AMPLEYeah. Then you can leave your dogwalking job to Jen.

Jenny quickly opens the door.

JENNYNot a chance.

Ample and Jenny then fight for entrance of the bathroom.Ample pushes Jenny out and slams the door. She is drippingwet with nothing but a towel around her.

JENNY (CONT'D)I really hate you.

AMPLEI want to have your babies too.

Jenny groans loudly. She goes into another room, slammingthe door.

BENAny who...

AMELIEYeah so I have to finish walking thedogs but I'll stop by the Inn later.

BENAlright.

Amelie leaves.

Jenny comes out of the room, fixing her clothes.

JENNYThis place isn't big enough for the

five of us. We really should callup Mr. Campbell.

She kisses Ben.

BENWe tried calling him yesterdayremember. The man is enjoying hisvacation, let him alright.


6/23

5.

JENNYI don't want to let him. I want tokeep bugging him until he gets thepoint.

Jenny walks into the kitchen, opening the fridge and takingout a bottle of ice tea.

BENWe have nothing to complain about.We are living in San Francisco forfree.

JENNYYeah yeah I know. What were you andAmelie talking about?

Jenny sits at the table. Ben sits across from her. Shedrinks the tea.

BENI was telling her about the job atmy work for housekeeping.

JENNYAnd the hippie said yes?

BENThe hippie said yes. I think evenshe realize things cost a lot inFresco. You wouldn't have a problemright? Her working with me?

Jenny puts down her drink.

JENNYNo. Why would I have a problem?

BENWell I know how territorial you canbe.

JENNYI am not territorial.

Ben reaches across the table towards her drink and Jennypops his hand.

JENNY (CONT'D)Mine.

Ben rubs his hand.

BENOh yeah not territorial.


7/23

6.

JENNYOkay maybe a little. But I have noproblem with your working with Ameliealright. No problem.

AMPLE (O.S.)(Yells from bathroom)

She's lying man. She's lying.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. APT 500 - LATER

Loud music plays from inside the apartment. Nothing is shownbut the door as it is opened and Charlie walks in. It isthen REVEALED that Jenny is dancing around to the music.

Charlie smiles and begins to mock her dance moves as she isnot looking.

When she finally CATCHES him. She falls to the ground witha yelp. Charlie laughs.

JENNYThat is not funny. Sneaking in herelike some kind of Ninja.

CHARLIEI couldn't help it. I mean wheredid you get those... those... whatdo you call them?

JENNY(falsely)

Haha.

Charlie walks into the kitchen, grabbing something from thefridge. Jenny sits on the couch, picking up a school book.She turns off the music.

CHARLIESo where's my girl, Amelie?

JENNYOut. Ben's helping her get a job at

the Mason Inn.

CHARLIEReally? And you're okay with that?

Jenny slams her book shut.

JENNYWhy does everyone think I'm going toexplode over this?


8/23

7.

CHARLIEWell you're a bit territorial.

JENNYI am not... look I don't mind. Idon't care.

CHARLIEPlus, Amelie... she is a beautifulsoul. I mean if I wasn't hopping onthe fairy train every other night...I'd name a star after her.

JENNYOh please, she's not that great.Besides, she is not a threat. Benlikes smart girls, you know, someonethat actually has something going onin there head.

CHARLIEYou'd be surprise. Amelie is a realdeep thinker sometimes.

CUT TO:

INT. MASON INN - LOBBY- DAY

Ben is leaned over the counter, listening attentively toAmelie.

AMELIE

And that is my psychologicalexplanation of toast.

BEN(Amazed)

Wow! I never saw it that way.

The boss, MR. ROGER, 32, tall and awkward looking walksout.

MR. ROGERBen, what did I tell you aboutentertaining hippies?

BENIt'll only make them feel special onthe inside.

MR. ROGERYes and we don't want that--


9/23

8.

BENBut Mr. Roger this is Amelie. She'sa fully functional hippie.

AMELIEIt's true. I only protest onWednesdays.

MR. ROGEROkay so why are you here?

AMELIEI want a job, sir. A trade thatconforms me to the everydayconventional behavior of an abidingcitizen. It's either that or buy aguitar and play on street corners.

EXT. CAFE - DAY

Ample and his date, SARAH, 20, pretty and blonde are seatedat a small table outside of a cafe. Sarah is very bored asAmple rambles on about himself.

AMPLESo then I considered changing mywork out hours from six in the morningto nine but then I figured that wouldjust be lazy of me. So I just addedanother day... Monday, Wednesday,Thursday, Sunday. Pretty good huh...I would work out everyday but I have

a job. I've got to obtain my goodlooks and my pocket change. That'show I do.

Sarah nods absentmindedly.

AMPLE (CONT'D)So enough about me, what are youreveryday's like?

SARAHMmm... well I'm a full time studentso I'm always working... I...

She continues to talk about herself. However, Ample getssidetracked when he sees LAURA. He keeps looking over ather and Sarah gets annoyed.

SARAH (CONT'D)Are you even listening?

AMPLEYeah sure. You have a pet goldfish.


10/23

9.

SARAHA pet Chihuahua.

AMPLESame difference. Hey...

Ample stands up as Laura walks towards their table.

AMPLE (CONT'D)Look who it is. I didn't see you atall.

LAURAHey Ample what are you doing here?

AMPLEOh just on a DATE with my soon to begirlfriend if someone doesn't snagme first. Say hi Anna.

SARAHMy name is Sarah.

AMPLERight.

LAURAOkay, well I better go. I'm latefor something.

Laura turns to walk away, Ample follows.

AMPLEAnother date with that smilingpervert.

LAURAHe's not a pervert and yes, it'swith him if you must know.

AMPLEIt's not going to work out.

LAURABye Ample.

Laura exits. Ample turns around and Sarah is gone. He slugsback over to the table and sits down alone.

INT. APT 500 - DAY

Amelie is in the apartment sitting plates on the table.Three bowls are on the table which are filled with dry,healthy food.


11/23

10.

Jenny enters.

JENNYHey Amelie, what are you up to?

AMELIEWell Ben was telling me today that

he's never had a vegan meal and so Ifigured the rest of you haven'teither. So I decided to make dinnertonight.

Jenny looks at the food.

JENNYI don't know. I doubt anyone wouldtry it.

AMELIE

Oh I'm sure Ben would. He's veryopen minded.

Jenny's eyes narrow on Amelie as Amelie moves about.

JENNYHmm... yeah that's Ben. Open minded.So did you get an application.

AMELIEBetter, I got the job. The vibesfrom this place are all centered. Iknow it's going to be a good working

environment. And Ben seems likehe'll be fun to work with. I wastalking to him today after we gotback, I was showing him my photoalbum from all the countries I'vebeen.

Amelie picks up her album and hands it to Jenny. Jenny flipsthrough it.

JENNYOh yeah. Ben always wants to travel.

AMELIEI know. He told me. He was reallysurprised by all my knowledge of thedifferent cultures. I guess he seesI'm not just some hippie.

JENNYHmm... I guess.

Jenny continues flipping through the album then STOPS.


12/23

11.

JENNY (CONT'D)Amelie, is this you?

Amelie walks to Jenny.

AMELIEYep that's me. The Caribbean...

just a year ago.

JENNYWow your body is... well I've seenbetter.

Jenny slams the book shut and hands it back. Amelie justsmiles and continues setting the table.

CUT TO:

INT. GAY BAR - NIGHT

Jenny, wearing shades and a dark overcoat, keeps her headdown as she walks quickly into the crowded bar, bumping intopeople and things. She sits down at the counter.

Charlie, the bartender, walks over to her.

CHARLIEYou're not fooling anyone with thoseshades. We don't need to see thewhites of your eyes to know you'rethere hun.

JENNYCharlie it's me.

Jenny lowers her shades then quickly puts them back on.

CHARLIEJenny!

JENNYShush!

CHARLIEWhy? You're in a gay club not a

Film Noir. What are you doing hereanyway?

Jenny gives up. She takes off her shades.

JENNYI need your help.


13/23

12.

CHARLIEYou need my help? Just last weekyou were trying to get me kicked outnow you need my help.

JENNY(Falsely)

Oh yeah... ummm times are differentnow... I- I like you.

CHARLIEPinocchio, I think your nose justgrew.

Jenny groans.

JENNYIt's about Amelie. I think you'reright. Ben is such a follower

sometimes and I just think that ifthey're working together well...

CHARLIEHe'll trade in the horse for onewith a kick.

JENNYHey I've got kick. I can be veryadventurous. I mean just last week...I walked through the Tenderloins bymyself.

CHARLIEOh really?

JENNYWell no but I did take a bus ridethrough and those seats were icky.Now tell me that's not adventurous.

CHARLIE(Falsely)

Oh yeah, you're a real heroine.

Defeated, Jenny gets up.

JENNYJust forget it.

Charlie rolls his eyes and gives in.

CHARLIEMake him jealous. If theirs anywayto keep a man, make him jealous andhe'll try even harder to keep you.


14/23

13.

JENNYJealous? How do I do that?

Charlie looks her over.

CHARLIEWell for one thing, show some skin.

Let your hair down, put on some lipstick. OH, get a job here.

Jenny looks around as if disgusted.

A waitress, carrying a tray, is dressed in a short skirt andtight halter top. She stops by a table full of gay guys.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)You can work as a waitress for abunch of twitters like myself. OnlyBen won't know the twittery part.

He'll see the outfit and presto...his attention is now yours forever.

JENNYI think it's brilliant.

CHARLIEWell hello it is me!

CUT TO:

INT. APT 500 - NIGHT

Ample, Ben and Amelie sit around the table eating the dinnerAmelie made. They're all laughing. Slowly, the laughtersettles.

BENSpeaking of failed situations, howdid your date go?

AMPLEAh man, I never kiss and tell.

BENI think that's code for their's

basically nothing to tell.

Amelie and Ben laugh.

Jenny enters, carrying a bag.

BEN (CONT'D)Hey babe.

Ben and Jenny, quick kiss.


15/23

14.

JENNYWhat are you all laughing about?

AMELIEAmple and his day date didn't go sowell.

AMPLEI didn't say that.

AMELIEI know but I could feel a negativeswitch in your body structure andyour tone when we mentioned it.

BENIsn't that amazing how she couldjust feel out people's moods, theiraura.

AMPLEI think it's annoying.

JENNYI agree. It's very annoying.

BENWell I think it's cool. Amelie wasjust telling us--

JENNYI got a job!

AMELIEThat's wonderful, where at?

JENNYWell take a guess.

Jenny digs in the bag and pulls out the tiny skirt.Everyone's eyes widen.

AMPLEYou're gonna be a prostitute.

JENNYNo you egg nog. I'm gonna be awaitress.

AMPLEYou would have been better off beinga prostitute.


16/23

15.

JENNYAnyways, it's at a club. Isn't thatgreat?

BENWell where's the rest of the outfit?

JENNYIt's just this and a tank top. Youknow, guys do like more bang fortheir buck.

BENAnd you're actually going to wearthat?

JENNYYeah, why not? I figured some fishnetstockings, some sexy red lip stick

and some stiletto heels, I'll bemaking more money than any of thegirls there.

Ben takes a moment to consider.

BENOkay. As long as you're happy.

JENNYWhat?

BEN

I trust you babe. I mean I don'texactly approve of the job but ifit's what you want... I trust you.

Jenny rolls her eyes and stuffs the skirt back in the bag.

AMPLEI just have one question... Are yougoing to model that thing or what?

Jenny hits him with the bag three times then storms off.

AMPLE (CONT'D)

She'll be back... with stiletto heels.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. APT 500 - EVENING

Ben sits in the apartment. He tosses cards on the table,bored. Ample sits at the computer. He is irritated as eachcard hits the table.


17/23

16.

AMPLEMan, if you're bored go do something.I'm trying to work here.

BENOh yeah? What are you working on?

Ben goes to him. He sits extra close. Ample looks at himas if he is crazy then scoots away.

AMPLEI'm selling Pokemon cards.

BENOh sweet... I use to have those whenI was younger but then I accidentallyburned them when I bought a goldfish.

Silence.

AMPLEOkay, I'm not even going to ask.

BENI could tell you if you want... it'san interesting story.

AMPLENo really, I'm good.

Silence. Ample goes back to work.

BENIt was the year of 1995 and I hadjust filled up my book of Pokemoncards--

AMPLEIs there something wrong?

BENNo, no god no... what gave you thatimpression. I'm just... I'm use toJen being here.

Ample smiles wickedly to himself.

AMPLEYou better get use to it man. She'sgonna be gone like this all the time.I could just imagine how many guysare ogling her right now. In thatoutfit... you've got some competition.

Ben tugs at his collar, nervously.


18/23

17.

BENWhat are you talking about? I- Itrust Jen. She would never... no.

AMPLEOf course you do. And who wouldn't?She's a beautiful girl... I mean

some might even say she's down rightsexy. Well I guess a lot of hornyguys tonight are calling her sexy.Or something else... a stage name...Tootsie, Roxy... Cherry!

Ben jumps to his feet and grabs his coat.

AMPLE (CONT'D)Where are you going?

BEN

To the club.

AMPLERight behind ya.

Ample hurries to his feet and follows Ben out the door.

INT. GAY BAR - NIGHT

Jenny, wearing the outfit, only in flats, no stockings,finishes pouring a table of gay guys drinks. She isenergetics and excited as she leaves the table and hurriesover to Charlie who behind the bar.

JENNYCharlie, this is so much fun.Everyone is so lively and bright andthe guys listen, oh how I wish theyweren't gay.

CHARLIEHa. Speak for yourself. I toldyou, it would be fun.

JENNYYeah. Well your plan to make Ben

jealous might have not worked but atleast I got a job out of it.

Some people enter the bar.

JENNY (CONT'D)Oh, gotta go. More customers.

She scurries off.


19/23

18.

Over at another table, two people are seated with menuscovering their face. At the same time, they lower the menus.Ample and Ben are revealed.

BENDo you see her yet?

AMPLENo. Does this place seem a littleweird to you?

A guy walks by wearing daisy dukes.

BENNo, why do you say that?

The guys cover back up their faces with the menu's.

Jenny walks past a table.

GUY 1Mmm hun can you get me another oneof these delicious drinks.

JENNYI sure can.

She takes the cup and sits it on her tray.

Back at the table, Ample sees Jenny. His eyes go wide withamazement and he taps Ben's shoulder repeatedly.

BENWhat?

AMPLEThere she is.

Ben's eyes widen as well and they both tilt their heads tothe wide.

AMPLE (CONT'D)Mama Mia, she's such a fox!

BEN

Stop ogling my girlfriend.

AMPLEWhy? Everyone else is and I'm aconformist.

Jenny returns to the table with the drink.


20/23

19.

GUY 1Thank you dear... and can I justsay, I really love your skirt. Itis so in this year. May I?

JENNYSure.

Guy 1 feels the material of the skirt.

GUY 1I knew it would be soft. It lookssoft.

Back at the table, Ample slaps Ben shoulder repeatedly.

AMPLESee, I told ya man, someone's feelingher up already.

Angry, Ben gets to his feet. Ample pulls him back down.

AMPLE (CONT'D)What are you doing man? You can'tjust go stomping over there.

BENThen what am I suppose to do?

AMPLEKeep it cool alright. You wanna beable to call her out on it later.

They cover there faces with the menu again.

Jenny walks back up to the bar. Charlie is looking towardswhere Ben and Ample are sitting.

CHARLIEAnd you thought my plan wouldn'twork huh...

He points settledly at the table. Jenny turns and sees theguys at the table. She puts her hands on her hips and walksover.

Charlie turns to a few of his friends at the bar.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)You see that guy over there... theone with the muscles.

They nod.


21/23

20.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)He's single and looking.

They all smile impressed, now interested.

Jenny arrives at the table. Ample and Ben are still coveringtheir faces with the menus though they know she's there.

JENNYWhat can I get you guys?

BEN(Disguised, high-pitched voice)

Uh, we're just gonna have...

Jenny snatches their menus away.

BEN (CONT'D)

(High-pitched)Hi(Clears throat-regularvoice)

Hey... what are you doing here? Isthis... oh is this the club you saidyou worked out. Oh man, I had noidea. That's embarrassing. This-this must be an awkward moment.This moment right now... must beawkward.

Jenny just stares at him with her arms folded. She taps her

foot.

BEN (CONT'D)On the plus side, you look great.

Jenny grabs his wrist and pulls him into

BREAK ROOM- CONTINUOUS

She slams the door.

BEN (CONT'D)Look, I didn't think you would be

mad alright but honestly why are youworking here huh? There's plenty ofjobs out there, you do not need towork as a waitress at some skankbar.

JENNYIt's a gay bar.


22/23

21.

BENThis... what?

JENNYDidn't you even see Charlie at thefront? All the guys running aroundin short shorts... no woman except

waitresses. Ben, this is a gay bar.

BENOh... well that just made things...so much better. Why didn't you tellme this was a gay bar?

JENNYI didn't think it mattered. Does itmatter? Are you jealous?

BEN

No. Yes but it's Ample's fault. Hewas saying all these things and thenI just... I thought... I'm sorry. Iknow I can trust you and I shouldn'thave overreacted.

JENNYI was jealous too.

BENYou? Of what?

JENNY

Of Amelie. I mean, you two seemedlike you were getting close orsomething and I just... that's why Itook this stupid job. I wanted tomake you jealous.

Silence.

BENI guess we both hit our jealousfactor.

JENNY

I guess.

Jenny puts her arms around his neck.

JENNY (CONT'D)Forgive me?

BENOf course.


23/23

22.

He puts his arms around her waist and they kiss.

JENNYBut I'm keeping the job.

BENJust as long as I get to see you in

the outfit.

They continue kissing.

FADE OUT:

INT. GAY BAR -- CONTINUOUS

Ample is still seated at the table but now a bunch of gayguys surround him, all listening attentively.

AMPLE

So then I considered changing mywork out hours from six in the morningto nine but then I figured that wouldjust be lazy of me. So I just addedanother day... Monday, Wednesday,Thursday, Sunday. Pretty good huh...

They all nod, saying 'Yeah' separately.

AMPLE (CONT'D)Wow you guys are good listeners.

They agree then silence.

Scene FADES TO Black

AMPLE (V.O.) (CONT'D)This is a gay bar huh?

FADE OUT:

THE END

the jealous factor

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