Cellular

FADE IN:

EXT. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AERIAL SHOT - DAY

Flying low over the massive sprawl of the city.

NARRATOR:

There are 2,762,500 cellular

phones currently operating in the

county of Los Angeles.

QUICK CUTS:

Local citizens on their cellulars.

A BUSINESSMAN IN A CROWDED RESTAURANT - simultaneously

devouring his lunch and conducting a heated negotiation over

his cellular.

CAMERA PANS THE RESTAURANT

A pretty woman at the next table also on her cell phone.

And beyond two more on theirs. Half the restaurant seems to

be talking and eating at the same time.

Even the waiter is in the corner anxiously taking a call

from his agent.

NARRATOR:

Forty percent of all households in

the city utilize one or more

cellular devices.

EXT. DOWNTOWN L.A. STREET

A teenager on a skateboard weaves through traffic while

chattering on the phone.

He whips past numerous motorists at the light who are

likewise engaged in conversation.

OVER THIS:
OPENING CREDITS APPEAR

EXT. THE BALL PARK - DAY

The crowd cheers as the Dodgers score a base hit -- except

for those who are too busy on the phone to notice.

INT. DARKENED MOVIE THEATE

Packed with customers. At the crucial dramatic moment

someone's cell phone goes off. The audience voices its

disapproval, hooting as the owner of the offending device

dashes up the aisle to the lobby.

EXT. THE BEACH - DAY

Gorgeous sun worshippers -- and many of them glued to their

telephones.

One couple mouth to mouth in an embrace, oblivious to all

around them -- until a cell phone rings. They immediately

terminate their lovemaking -- both of them reaching for

their cellular at the same moment. Nobody can afford to

miss a call.

NARRATOR:

An estimated 200 new units are

being added each day.

CREDITS CONTINUE

INT. MEN'S ROOM

A long line of gentlemen at the urinals. And one of them

using his free hand to punch up a number.

EXT. BEVERLY HILLS - HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

As the students swarm out, immediately switch on their cell

phones and launch into an update of the day's events.

INT. A LAP DANCING CLUB

As a frustrated young lady vainly tries to attract the

attention of her middle aged client by giving it her all --

only to find him oblivious to her charms and entirely

focused on his cellular call.

Despite the proximity of her bare breasts and the thrashing

of her long auburn hair across his face there is no

response. It's as if she's not even there.

HIGH ANGLE - ABOVE THE CANYONS

Perched here amidst the wilderness one of the giant dishes

that relay thousands of calls to a satellite station in the

sky.

ON THE SOUND TRACK we HEAR a cacophony of overlapping voices

-- idle babble -- crucial information -- and just plain

talk, totally unintelligible -- which quickly begins to take

on the quality of chirping insects -- as still more voices

join in and the volume rises to virtually engulf us.

CUT TO BLACK:

SILENCE ON SOUND TRACK

NARRATOR:

This is the story of 90 minutes in

the life of one cellular phone.

FADE IN:

EXT. CULVER CITY - DAY

A convertible moves through afternoon traffic with its top

down. It's a 1995 Chrysler Sebring, colored maroon.

INT. THE CAR

MUSIC is BLARING. It's vintage Tito Puente; "Cherry Pink

and Apple Blossom White."

THEO NOVAK is alone at the wheel. He's handsome, a sharp

dresser in his Imperio Armani suit and cashmere turtleneck.

He seems to be enjoying the ride until the cell phone lying

on the seat intrudes upon his privacy.

THEO:

What now?

The caller I.D. on the cell phone reads "ANONYMOUS."

THEO:

Yeah, hello?

There's a woman's voice on the line -- a voice choked with

fear. Not any voice he expected to hear.

LENORE'S VOICE

Thank God -- thank God I've got

you.

THEO:

Who is this?

LENORE'S VOICE

You mustn't hang up.

PRODUCTION NOTE:
WE NEVER CUT TO THE OTHER END OF THE LINE.

WE REMAIN WITH THEO AT ALL TIMES.

THEO:

Do I know you?

LENORE:

I've been trying to get someone --

anyone. For hours ...

THEO:

If this is some sales pitch I'm

not buying --

LENORE:

You don't understand.

THEO:

No. You don't understand! You

caught me on my cellular on the

way to pick up some business

associates. And I've got no time

to screw around.

LENORE:

Will you let me explain!

THEO:

And what're you whispering for?

LENORE:

I can't talk any louder. They

might hear.

Theo switches off the Latin CD so he can hear more clearly.

THEO:

Lady, try making some sense.

LENORE:

You may be our only chance. I

don't know if I can do this again.

THEO:

What'd you do! Just pick my

number out of the air?

LENORE:

They smashed the phone. I've been

clicking the loose wires together

hoping it'd make a connection.

THEO:

Who smashed the phone?

LENORE:

They're holding my husband

downstairs.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes