Screenplay

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

BY

RISHI JHA

FADE IN:

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

A typical lazy afternoon. One of those perfect fall
afternoons when every shredded leaf lying on the ground
resembles a pretty flower. A row of identical houses

INT. THE THOMPSON HOUSE - DAY

The Thompsons are getting ready for lunch. Its a beautiful
house, neat. The walls are adorned with many pictures of the
happy family. DENNIS THOMPSON, 35 is shuffling through some
files. Tall and broad he cuts a handsome figure in life as
he does in the pictures. A cop by profession he acts like
one.
DENNIS
Are you ready or should I come over
tomorrow love ?
LUCY THOMPSON, 29 comes over carrying a stack of plates and
a scowl on her face. She is a pretty woman, tall and
striking though hot under the collar at the moment.

LUCY
(arranging plates on the table)
Wouldn’t it be better if you helped
a bit every once in a while, Dennis

Dennis smiles without looking up.

LUCY
(shouting)
Jeffrey ! Lunch is served.

JEFFREY THOMPSON, 8 comes running over to the table.With

short hair and cheeky features he is the epitome of a
precocious kid. He gently seats himself at the dining table
as Dennis and Lucy join in.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

DENNIS
Food looks delicious dear, what say
Jeff ?
Jeffrey nods.

JEFFREY
Dad, why is mom upset ?
DENNIS
Because, we ANNOY her.

He puts his arm around his wife in a show of affection

DENNIS (CONT.)
But we love her. Jeffrey, did you
know the tricks I had to come up
wit..
The BELL rings. For a second all three sit there looking at
each others faces until Dennis gets up to answer the bell.
He opens the door and finds a man standing there. The man
looks to be in his mid to late twenties and worn out as if
he has just fought a bull and survived. His clothes are torn
in parts but he appears calm.

INT./EXT. HOUSE - DAY

DENNIS
(perplexed)
Yes ?
MAN
Hi, I was wondering if you could
provide me with some food.
DENNIS
I am sorry, what ?

MAN
(getting closer and pulling out a
hand gun, whispering)
I am hungry mate...and I am a good
man, trust me. just do as I tell
you to and I promise no harm will
come to you or your family.
Dennis looks at his face, then has a good look at the gun
pressed to his chest.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

LUCY
Who is it dear ?
Dennis nods approvingly and lets the man in. They walk
slowly inside the room. Lucy looks at Dennis and sees the
man behind him. She clutches little Jeffery’s hand under the
table upon seeing the gun.
MAN
Hello everyone. How are we doin
today ?

JEFFREY
Good.
Jeffrey is nonchalant.The man seats himself at the table.

MAN
Don’t you wanna sit down mister?
relax and make yourself at home.
Denis seats himself. Lucy stares at him. He looks back.

MAN
Well, I guess I’ll have to start
the proceedings. Ma’am, may I have
a plate ?
Lucy gets up and gets a plate for him.

JEFFREY
Mom, Can I have a plate too ?
Lucy stares at her son as if he has committed a cardinal
sin.

JEFFREY (CONT. )
What ? I just need an extra plate
OK, stop being so angry with me all
the time.

MAN
Sweet kid, Hi, my name’s Reynold.
JEFFREY
I am Jeffrey though everyone calls
me Jeff. Is that a real gun ?
REYNOLD
Why yes it is Jeff. Ever seen one
before ?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

JEFFREY
Oh ye..
DENNIS
Jeffrey shut your mouth
(to Reynold)
Listen mister, why don’t you have
your lunch and be on your way ?
REYNOLD
Sure thing Sir, I was just
familiarizing with your boy.The
food does look delicious ma’am.
Reynold serves himself.
REYNOLD
Woo, tooomato soup, let me try the
soup first.
Reynold tastes the soup as everyone looks on.
REYNOLD
Delicious ma’am ! Ah, may I know
your name if you won’t mind ?
LUCY
(tensed)
L..Lucy.

REYNOLD
Lucy, this is some good soup.Did
you know that in England, it is a
requisite to add oranges in the
tomato soup ?

LUCY
No, no I did not know that.
REYNOLD
Stupid custom if you ask me.I mean
think of it, why would you add a
fruit in a soup dish made up of
fruit ?
JEFFREY
Tomato is a vegetable.
LUCY
JEFFREY !

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

REYNOLD
Hey, relax, relax Lucy. He is just
a kid.
(to Jeffrey)
Jeff, tomato is a fruit. Ask your
father. Am I right ....
DENNIS
Dennis, name’s Dennis and yes
tomato is a fruit. Tomato is a
fruit Jeff.

Jeffrey raises his spoon as a sign of surrender or being

sorry. Reynold serves himself some rice and gravy.
REYNOLD
So Lucy, what are your plans for
Christmas ?
JEFFREY
We are visiting grandma for the
holidays.

REYNOLD
Fascinating. And what are you gonna
do with granny ?
JEFFREY
Well, I decorate the tree. Not much
with granny though, she’s like mom
lazy and uninterested.
Dennis looks sternly at his son.

JEFFREY
(looking at his father)
What ?
REYNOLD
Well, I loved to decorate my tree
as a boy. As a matter of fact, oh
this gravy is delicious Lucy.
LUCY
Thank y..

REYNOLD
I think I always preferred a real
tree than an artificial one, which
makes me sad at the current state
of affairs, what with everyone
opting for the cheaper and more
durable artificial ones.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

JEFFREY
Right on sir, Ive been telling this
to everyone I know. I always prefer
the real tree because they add to
the spirit of Christmas, moreover
they smell better.
DENNIS
No, they don’t.

JEFFREY
Dad, you always go for the
artificial ones, what do you care?
DENNIS
Well...because young man, every
time you use a real tree you are
taking a piece of this planet, ever
thought of that ?
REYNOLD
Hey Dennis, I gotta side with the
kid on this one OK, I mean its not
like you are going and cutting
endangered species out there.
Christmas trees are reared for this
purpose. Furthermore, and I think
this should seal the deal, real
trees can be used again and again.
DENNIS
No, they can’t !

LUCY
Well actually they can dear.
Remember we always got real trees
when we were dating ?

DENNIS
We were dating and we were stupid
kids.
REYNOLD
ahh...havent been on a date since
ages. What about you little guy,
you got a girl.
JEFFREY
(shy)
Yeah....But its one way, I mean I
know I love her for sure, its just
that I am not too certain about
her. Girls can be bitchy.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

LUCY
Jeffrey ! What did I tell you about
swearing ?
(to reynold)
Would you like some potatoes ?
REYNOLD
Oh no, THANK YOU MA’AM ! That was
delicious. Oh you have done a great
favour . I shall forever be
grateful.
LUCY
Some ice-cream.

DENNIS
(sarcastically)
Sure, let me oblige. I am the man
of the house at the moment after
all.

Dennis gets up to get the ice cream. Reynold and Jeffrey

playfully high-five each other. Dennis looks at the freezer
and freezes.
DENNIS
Strawberry.

Lucy quickly turns around and sighs.

LUCY
I forgot.

DENNIS
You forgot ! You always forget.
LUCY
Look I am sorry alright Dennis. I
mean it wasn’t like I did it on
purpose you know.
Dennis slams the ice cream basket on the table.
REYNOLD
Say chief, Why so angry ?
JEFFREY
Dad hates strawberry and Mom hates
chocolate.

REYNOLD
H mm, that’s no reason to fight you
know. Violence begets violence. I
personally love strawberry.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

Reynold serves himself and everyone else in turn.

REYNOLD
Think about it you guys, you fight
over something as silly as dessert
and then wonder why the spirit of
Christmas is being diluted as time
passes by, its because we are
increasingly becoming frustrated on
the smallest of issues, right jeff?

JEFFREY
I prefer strawberry too and yes,
you do have a point.
DENNIS
I don’t do much wrong Reynold, and
I am almost always never wrong.
REYNOLD
Dennis, its that almost which can
make all the difference.Think it
over. Anyways thank you so much
for the meal everyone. Lucy,
Jefferey, Dennis, its been a
pleasure.
Reynold gets up and points the gun at the family, He strides
back.

REYNOLD
Just a precaution guys, need’nt
worry. Dennis, mark my words man,
you will realize.

JEFFREY
Bye Reynold, nice meetin ya.
REYNOLD
Bye Jeffrey, have fun in Christmas.
Pleasure Lucy.

Reynold turns and gets out the door. Dennis takes his gun
out of his pants and runs to the door. Lucy asks Dennis to
let go.

EXT. THE THOMPSON’S HOUSE - DAY

Dennis takes aim at Reynold who has his back to Dennis.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

DENNIS
Hey Reynold.
Reynold turns around
REYNOLD
Dennis its a fake g..
Dennis pumps two bullets into Reynold. He runs towards
Reynold who lies bleeding. He picks him up.

REYNOLD
Its a fake gun you dumb fuck. You
are an almost m...
Reynold’s eyes close as Jeffrey sobs hugging Lucy at the
door.

FADE TO BLACK.