The Incredible Jessica James Page #6

Synopsis: An aspiring playwright in New York strikes up a friendship with a guy while on the rebound from a break-up.
Genre: Comedy
Director(s): Jim Strouse
Production: Netflix
  3 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.5
Metacritic:
72
Rotten Tomatoes:
86%
Year:
2017
85 min
1,122 Views


a handful of theater companies

that was interested in my work?

Yeah.

I lied.

So...

Oh, sh*t. I found something

that you feel insecure about.

What? I'm like insecure about everything.

- You hide it well.

- Well...

I just really love theater.

You know, I feel like I love it

the way that most people

love like sports or food.

- Oh, I love food and sports.

- Yeah.

- You love it that much?

- Yes, I do.

And I've been like that since I was a kid.

I love everything about it.

I love reading it.

I love watching it even when it's bad.

I love teaching it.

I especially love making it.

I just... I love it all.

That's great. So, what's the problem?

I don't know if it loves me back

and that scares the sh*t out of me.

Come on. I'm sure it loves you back.

No, I have a wall full

of rejection letters that beg to differ.

- I would love to read one.

- What? A rejection letter?

No. I would love to read one

of your plays.

Maybe, I'll think about it

and get back to you.

You'd happily share it

with a room full of strangers,

but for me, you have to think about it.

Yeah, well, it's different to share it

with somebody that you know.

It's like really intimate.

I already know I'm gonna like it.

Okay, well, don't do that.

If I do show you my stuff, and that's if,

you have to promise me

that you will be honest.

Honesty is like all I care about.

Was that supposed to be

an impression of me?

Oh, it did sound like you, I guess.

Yeah, it did, a little bit.

Well, this is me.

Yeah. I know. I already, uh, spent

the night here, remember?

- Yes.

- Mm-hm.

- I had such a great time today.

- Me, too.

It was really lovely.

- You're such a beautiful skater.

- Thank you.

I had a really terrible teacher.

You're sure I don't still remind you

of how not Damon I am?

- No.

- Mm-hm.

Are you gonna invite me up?

I was thinking maybe not.

Why? I already know your bathroom

is gross AF.

First of all, I've cleaned it thoroughly.

- Good.

- And second of all...

I think we should slow it down

a little bit.

I spent the night here

the first time we hung out.

- Yes.

- Mm-hm.

- And it was tremendous.

- Mm.

You booty called me like four days later.

- So, so fun.

- You're an excellent lover.

Well, please don't call me lover.

It's disgusting.

What's the problem?

I probably seem to you,

like I have my sh*t together.

But, um...

I just got out of a marriage

eight months ago.

And everything is just a bit sh*t.

Boone, you so do not

seem like you have it together.

And, I don't either.

I just got out of a relationship, too.

Well, all the more reason to...

Say good night.

Really? Boone.

- Yeah.

- Boone, Boone, Boone.

- I'm trying to be strong.

- I'm a unicorn.

Oh.

That's got to mean something.

Good night, Jessica.

Good night.

- Mm.

- Mm-hm.

Oh, f*** it.

- Just come up.

- Yes.

We can always say good night

in the morning, right?

We're naked.

We are so naked.

Mm-hm.

You're so beautiful.

I am.

I'm a little nervous.

Oh, no, no, no.

You don't seem nervous at all.

- I love the way you feel.

- I like the way you feel me.

- Yeah?

- Mm-hm.

How about if I feel you here?

Oh, sh*t, Boone. Yup.

Oh.

Where do you like to be touched?

Oh, you know.

Anywhere is nice.

- Yeah? Is that okay?

- Yeah, there.

There is the best.

Yeah.

- Hey.

- Hey.

- You got a dog?

- I did.

Wow, it's a really cute dog.

She's so little.

Are you just walking around here?

Uh, yeah.

Hm? You're just walking around

the neighborhood?

- You don't live around here.

- What?

Why are you walking around here?

- Well, honestly I've been thinking.

- Oh, you've been thinking?

- You've been thinking?

- Yeah, I've...

- Why do you keep doing that?

- Because you don't live around here.

You're walking her over here.

That's weird.

Excuse me, sir.

Is this woman bothering you?

No, no. She's not bothering me, man.

It's fine.

- Would you like me to call the police?

- No, man. No.

I'm gonna call the police.

Don't call the police, man.

I love her, okay?

I love her!

Good luck.

I love you.

Hey, listen, I know you think

you're the one with the broken heart.

But, remember, you broke up with me.

You didn't have to accept it so easily.

Well, what was I supposed to do?

- I don't know, fight for us.

- Fight for what?

We were already in a relationship.

I was scared sh*t.

Scared of what?

Of everything.

Of being defined as your girlfriend,

of not being a writer,

of trying and failing,

of losing myself in this relationship.

Listen, Jess, I just think

that we deserve another chance.

All right? I deserve another chance.

I'm kind of seeing somebody right now.

Well, would you want me to fight him?

Because I'll punch him right...

No, Damon. Go home, okay?

Don't walk your freaking cute ass dog

in my neighborhood anymore.

- Jess, come on.

- Go! Seriously.

Jess.

Jess.

- Jess...

- Jess. Jess.

Jess.

You all right?

I'm okay, just thinking.

I was gonna make some coffee.

You want some coffee?

- Oh, I am more of a tea person.

- Ah.

So...

Then, I shall bring you tea.

Thank you.

All right.

Close your eyes and open your minds.

We're gonna play another game.

Except this game is not going to be

as easy as the others.

Why not?

You'll see.

You ready?

It's your birthday,

and you're in the car with your parents.

My parents don't have a car.

Then use your imagination.

Okay, I'm gonna imagine I'm in a Ferrari.

Okay, great.

The whole year, you've been

telling anybody who would listen

that all you wanted

for your birthday was a dog.

And you think that you're on your way

to the pet store

to pick one out right now.

But what you don't know

is that your mom just found out

that she's going to have another baby.

And your parents have already

been stretching their money

to make sure that they can pay

for your college education.

You don't know any of this yet

because you're just a kid

and they work really hard

to shield you from that stuff.

But, unfortunately, this creates

a lot of tension between them.

Sometimes, you hear them yelling

at each other late at night

when they think you're asleep.

And it really scares you.

Now your dad, being the proud

and impractical man that he is,

really wants to get you this dog

even though he knows

that you can't afford it.

And your mom is frustrated at him for this

because she works, too.

And she knows that she's going

to have to quit her job

to take care of this new baby.

Wow. I didn't know things were so tight.

My parents should probably sell

this Ferrari.

Davion.

Cool it with the Ferrari, okay?

Now.

Imagine that you're the dad.

You're driving the car

and you look in the rear-view mirror,

and you see your kid

with this big dopey smile on her face.

I don't have a dopey smile.

You're right, you have a beautiful smile.

Thank you.

Now, imagine that you're the mom.

You're in the passenger seat...

and you see a look of anguish

go across your husband's face

Rate this script:3.0 / 3 votes

Jim Strouse

James C. Strouse is an American screenwriter and film director. He wrote the film Lonesome Jim, directed by Steve Buscemi. He wrote and made his directorial debut with Grace Is Gone starring John Cusack. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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